Based on the feasibility study in phase i, it is now proposed to design, construct and operate a pilot plant for continuously producing spacecraft quality nitrogen tetroxide up to 10,000 pounds per year for use as an oxidizer in hydrazine-based rocket propellants. The chemical process is based upon the catalytic (platinum) oxidation of ammonia at high temperatures (circa 850 deg c) and one atmosphere, followed by cooling, compression to 10 atmospheres, dehydration over molecular sieves and subsequent homogeneous conversion of nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide/nitrogen tetroxide. Plant tail gases are to be treated via selective catalytic reduction to nitrogen or absorbed in an aqueous (ammonical or lime) solution or a combination thereof. It is projected that subsequent scaleups for supplying the spacecrafts' needs will be skid-mounted and located at the point of end use (such as cape canaveral or edwards air force base) to avoid cross-country transportation of nitrogen tetroxide. The philosophy here is that it is preferable to transport anhydrous ammonia--the only feedstock required other than air--to the alunch site where it can be converted into nitrogen tetroxide in either a transportable or stationary chemical production plant.
