Q1: Coal based fertiliser plants at Ramagundam (Andhra Pradesh) and Talchar (Orissa)

ANS:B - gasify coal to get hydrogen from coal gas.

Coal-based fertilizer plants at Ramagundam (Andhra Pradesh) and Talcher (Odisha) primarily utilize coal for gasification to obtain hydrogen from coal gas. This process involves converting coal into a synthesis gas, or syngas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and other gases. The hydrogen obtained from this gasification process is an essential raw material used in the production of ammonia, a key component in nitrogen-based fertilizers such as urea. While coal may be used for heating purposes in certain aspects of the fertilizer production process, its primary application in these coal-based fertilizer plants is the gasification process to extract hydrogen. Coal is not typically used as filler or conditioner in fertilizer production, as its primary value lies in its potential to produce hydrogen through gasification.