Although it seems simple, the reaction to obtain ammonia does not originate very easily, especially if you want to produce on an industrial level. In the field of chemistry, ammonia synthesis represents the reaction of both nitrogen and hydrogen for the production of ammonia at an industrial level.
The ammonia synthesis process was first devised by the German chemist Fritz Haber, who through this method was able to use ammonia gas in the production of artificial fertilizers, which have contributed to world agricultural growth.
The conditions that allow the correct development of the synthesis are the following:
- High pressures.
- High temperatures
- The use of ferric catalysts.
During the process, nitrogen is supplied in significant quantities, obtained by means of the fragmented distillation of liquefied air. Hydrogen, for its part, is produced by reactivating water vapor with methane. This is why under these conditions, approximately 30% of the reagents are capable of transforming into ammonia. The hot gases that are in the reaction chamber, proceed to cool, and then liquefy and separate the ammonia. In this way, the separation of nitrogen and hydrogen that did not achieve the reaction is achieved and are recycled. And they are injected back into the reactor.
Ammonia was produced thanks to the use of the haber process (at industrial request) during the development of the First World War, for the manufacture of explosives.
It is important to highlight the fact that thanks to this invention Fritz Haber was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918
