After years of dedicated effort, the Marysville East Plant has reached a major milestone with the installation of a state-of-the-art resin tower and air scrubbing system. This significant upgrade directly addresses ammonia emissions, a natural byproduct of the plant’s Methylene Urea Resin Process (MURP) used in fertilizer manufacturing. The multi-stage air scrubbing system has delivered a dramatic reduction in these emissions, marking a substantial step forward in environmental responsibility.
“The resin tower has been something we’ve been targeting and working toward for many years, and to finally get there has been a big win,” said Phillip Buerk, Senior Manager, Environmental Health and Safety. “There were at least four different efforts to replace that system at the East Plant, and we were never able to successfully land on a solution until this past year.”
This project required a comprehensive overhaul, extending beyond just emission controls to encompass a significant evolution of the plant’s production processes. The multi-year undertaking represents a considerable investment in the company’s future and its commitment to sustainability. The new scrubber stands on the site of the former Milan building, which has been carefully decommissioned.
“We ripped everything out of there and put our two-stage sulfuric acid scrubber in, so all of our ammonia emissions that we were sending through an antiquated scrubber are now going through a state-of-the-art scrubber, and we’ve got a 99.9% removal efficiency,” said Steven Kiracofe, Lead Engineer, Projects. “So it’s a huge environmental win, a huge employee health win, and a benefit to the local community.”
The impact of the new system is plant-wide. Now, 99.9% of the ammonia processed through the scrubber system is being captured and converted into ammonium sulfate, a valuable resource that is then sold for use in agriculture. This innovative approach not only minimizes environmental impact but also creates a beneficial byproduct.
