AMMONIA – NH3
Ammonia NH3 is a chemical compound of nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H). NH3 is a pungent smelling, colorless, toxic gas with good water solubility.
In the ambient air, gaseous ammonia reacts quickly with other substances to form particles, aerosols, which are then carried into the soil when it rains or fogs. In the soil it is either bound to particles or it is taken up by plants and microorganisms. Furthermore, nitrous oxide (N2O), a powerful greenhouse gas, can form in the soil. It can also be washed into lakes and rivers along with the soil material. The concentration of ammonia in the air has a significant impact on the nitrogen cycle. The fine dust particles formed and the ammonia itself pose a risk to human health and damage plants and ecosystems. Ammonia has a toxic effect on the leaf organs of plants and can lead to the extinction of individual species.
The absolute majority of all NH3 gas emissions occur in agriculture. The main emitter is animal husbandry, followed by the application of fertilizers and fermentation residues from biogas plants.
Although ammonia is one of the most produced chemical substances (fertilizers, urea, ammonium salts, …) the emission from industrial processes is relatively small (< 5% of the total emissions). Ammonia emission from burning fossil fuels is estimated to be < 1% of total NH3 emissions.
The precise and reliable measurement of ammonia concentrations can be important in a wide variety of applications to better understand the impact of NH3 on the environment.
