PRODUCTION AND USE OF CYANOGUANIDINE AND CYANAMIDE
The present invention is concerned with a method of producing a composition comprising cyanoguanidine, the method comprising (a) using a source of energy to react a metal oxide with a source of carbon to produce a finely divided metal carbide at an elevated temperature and immediately reacting the hot finely divided metal carbide with nitrogen gas to form a metal cyanamide. In embodiments the method comprises the step of (b) reacting the metal cyanamide, together with any unreacted metal carbide, with water to decompose the metal carbide into acetylene and acetylene-related compounds and metal hydroxide. Furthermore, energy can be derived from the reaction by (c) combusting the acetylene and acetylene- related compounds to release energy. Furthermore metal hydroxide can be recovered from the process by (d) separating the metal cyanamide and the metal hydroxide for recycling in the production process. The cyanoguanidine can then be used, for example, as a fertilizer.