Followings are the major sources of feedstock for production of nitrogenous fertilizer. Arrange them in sequence according to their higher share of consumption in India.
(A). Naptha
(B). Natural Gas
(C). Coal or Coke
(D). Electrolysis of water
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Show Hint
Natural gas is the primary feedstock for urea plants in India because steam reforming of methane (\(\text{CH}_4\)) is the most cost-effective method to produce hydrogen gas (\(\text{H}_2\)) for ammonia synthesis.
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Nitrogenous fertilizer production requires a hydrogen source to synthesize ammonia (\(\text{NH}_3\)) via the Haber-Bosch process. Different feedstocks supply this hydrogen with varying commercial shares. Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Natural Gas (B): Is the dominant feedstock used in India, accounting for over \(80-90\%\) of nitrogenous fertilizer production due to its high efficiency and lower carbon footprint.
2. Naphtha (A): Was historically a major feedstock. While many older plants have transitioned to natural gas, some domestic capacity still relies on naphtha.
3. Coal or Coke (C): Represents a minor share. Coal gasification for ammonia production is limited to specialized plants (such as Talcher).
4. Electrolysis of water (D): Is highly energy-intensive and is not widely used for commercial-scale nitrogenous fertilizer production in India.
5. Thus, the sequence of feedstock consumption from highest to lowest share is: Natural Gas (B) \(\rightarrow\) Naphtha (A) \(\rightarrow\) Coal/Coke (C) \(\rightarrow\) Electrolysis (D). Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct sequential order is (B), (A), (C), (D).
