The Haber process
The Haber process, also called the Haber–Bosch process, is an artificial nitrogen fixation process and is the main industrial procedure for the production of ammonia today. The German chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch developed it in the first decade of the 20th century.
Hydrogen + Nitrogen <---> Ammonia
Hydrogen is obtained from Methane and steam, producing Carbon monoxide and Carbon dioxide as a biproduct
CH₄ + H20 (g) = H2 + CO + CO2
The hydrogen and Nitrogen from the atmosphere are then compressed and then delivered to the reactor, where Ammonia is produced. The gases are cooled down, and the ammonia is available as a liquid.
Unused Nitrogen and hydrogen are recycled back into the reactor
The forward reaction is favored, and is exothermic
The Haber process also follows Le Chatelier's principle, keeping operating and production costs in mind while maximizing ammonia production. Similarly, the compromise pressure is kept at 200 ATM, and the temperature is kept at 400-450 degrees Celsius.
If the temperature was lower, there would not be enough activation energy, and too high temperatures are not feasible. This is why a middle ground is preferred. This also ensures that the reaction proceeds with sufficient yield - 10 - 20%. Also, keep in mind, the unused reactants are recycled, so there is minimal wastage. An iron catalyst is also used, to increase the rate at which equilibrium is reached.
Thank you for reading, this has been our learning for 10th may 2021.
- Mirage Chemistry
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