The Mond gas process was designed to convert cheap coal into flammable gas, which was made up of mainly hydrogen, while recovering ammonium sulfate. The gas produced was rich in hydrogen and poor in carbon monoxide. Although it could be used for some industrial purposes and power generation, the gas was limited for heating or lighting.
In 1897, the first Mond gas plant began at the Brunner Mond & Company in Northwich, Cheshire. Mond plants which recovered ammonia needed to be large in order to be profitable, using at least 182 tons of coal per week.