Process Filtration Solutions for Operational Reliability, Catalyst Protection, Platinum Recovery, and Lifecycle Optimization
Modern Nitric Acid Production Requires More Than Process Reliability
Nitric acid producers face growing pressure to improve efficiency, reduce operational risk, strengthen sustainability performance, and optimize lifecycle economics. While nitric acid production chemistry is well established, modern facilities must also manage ammonia efficiency, platinum catalyst protection, energy recovery, emissions control, and long-term equipment reliability.
In this environment, filtration is no longer just a maintenance function. It plays a critical role in production continuity, process efficiency, asset protection, and operational resilience. Cleanova, together with its legacy Dollinger expertise, delivers integrated filtration solutions engineered for critical nitric acid applications, including air intake, ammonia purification, hot gas filtration, and platinum recovery.
Commercial Drivers Behind Modern Nitric Acid Operations
Nitric acid production remains heavily influenced by three primary economic and operational drivers:
Ammonia Efficiency
Approximately 260 kilograms of ammonia are required to produce one metric ton of nitric acid, making ammonia one of the process’s highest operating costs.
As ammonia remains one of the largest variable operating costs, producers continue to prioritize catalyst protection, process stability, and optimized gas mixing to improve efficiency and reduce losses.
Platinum Recovery
Platinum-rhodium catalyst gauze remains one of the most valuable assets within the nitric acid process. Even minor catalyst losses can create a significant financial impact, making downstream recovery strategies commercially critical.
Energy Recovery and Reliability
Steam and power recovery efficiency can vary substantially between plant configurations. Maintaining stable operations, protecting compressors, and minimizing contamination exposure directly influence throughput, energy recovery performance, and maintenance requirements.
Integrated Filtration Across Critical Process Stages
Cleanova filtration technologies are engineered to support contaminant control and equipment protection throughout multiple stages of nitric acid production.
Air Intake and Compressor Protection
Large centrifugal compressors require extremely high volumes of clean process air to maximize ammonia conversion efficiency and protect downstream platinum gauze systems. Cleanova’s AI-138 air intake filtration platform supports high-flow applications while maintaining low pressure drop and strong particulate removal performance. PulseJet and Inertial Spin Filter configurations are also available for facilities operating in elevated particulate or high dirt-load environments.
Catalyst Protection and Hot Gas Filtration
Downstream of the compressor, hot gas filtration plays a critical role in protecting platinum catalyst gauze from particulate contamination. Cleanova GP-146 gas particulate filtration systems utilize advanced media engineered for low media migration, strong solids loading capacity, high filtration efficiency, and optimized pressure drop performance.
Retrofit upgrade strategies are also available for plants currently operating with sintered stainless-steel filtration elements.
Liquid and Gaseous Ammonia Filtration
Filtration upstream of ammonia vaporizers and ammonia-air mixers is essential to remove dirt, oil carryover, pipe scale, moisture, and other contaminants before they enter the oxidation process.
Cleanova LL-142 particulate filtration systems, together with GP-146 gas particulate and GP-198 coalescing technologies, help support catalyst integrity, process consistency, and downstream equipment protection.
Platinum Recovery and Lifecycle Optimization
Platinum recovery remains one of the most commercially important filtration applications within nitric acid production. Cleanova platinum recovery systems are engineered to capture valuable catalyst material downstream of the gauze bed while supporting efficient recovery, refurbishment, and reuse.
Reusable element structures and removable media designs help maximize reclaim efficiency while supporting long-term sustainability objectives and reducing replacement costs.
Through Cleanova’s cartridge recovery facilities, producers can implement recovery programs designed to improve lifecycle economics while supporting operational continuity and resource stewardship.
Supporting Modern Nitric Acid Facilities
By combining process expertise, application engineering, and advanced industrial filtration technologies, Cleanova supports nitric acid producers with commercially focused filtration strategies aligned to modern operational priorities.
Cleanova’s filtration solutions are designed to help facilities:
- Improve operational reliability and process consistency
- Protect platinum catalyst performance and maximize reclaim value
- Reduce unplanned downtime and maintenance exposure
- Optimize lifecycle operating economics
- Enhance gas mixing
- Support energy recovery and sustainability objectives
- Improve long-term production resilience in demanding operating environments
With a platform of specialty filtration expertise and advanced process technologies globally, Cleanova supports nitric acid producers worldwide with integrated filtration solutions engineered for performance, reliability, and long-term value creation.
Contact the team at Cleanova to learn more about our filtration solutions for chemical manufacturing.