Keywords: IPPC Directive, BREF, Fertilizer production, Pollution control, Emission standards, Best available techniques, Ammonia, Nitric acid

The work on the reference document on Best Available Techniques (BAT) for the manufacture of ammonia, acids and fertilizers is finished, and the document is available as a final draft on the internet. This so-called 'BREF' is the result of an information exchange under the EU's IPPC Directive and presents information and conclusions related to the production of ammonia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid, urea, AN/CAN, NPK and SSP/TSP. The purpose of this document is to inform competent authorities, operators and the public about what may be technically and economically available to industry in order to improve their environmental performance and consequently improve the whole environment. The paper describes the concept of BAT and its legal basis, shows how a BAT reference document is developed and presents examples for BAT from the BREF on ammonia, acids and fertilizers.

Dr Bernd Serr, European IPPC Bureau, European Commission, JRC/IPTS, Edificio Expo, C/ Inca Garcilaso s/n, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.

18 pages, 3 figures, 6 tables, 20 references.