Manufacture of Ammonia

through Haber’s Process

Reactants
• Nitrogen and hydrogen in
the ratio 1:3 by volume. This reaction is reversible, exothermic
and proceeds with a decrease in volume
• Nitrogen gas is obtained by
fractional distillation of liquid air.
• Hydrogen gas is obtained from water gas
through Bosch process or from natural gas.
• Only 15% of the reacting gases will be converted into ammonia.
Favourable Conditions
• Temperature
Optimum temperature is 400-500° C
• Pressure
Above 200atm.
• Catalyst
Finely divided iron.
• Promoter
Traces of molybdenum or Al 2O 3.
Recovery/Collection Of Ammonia
Ammonia can be separated from the unreacted nitrogen
and hydrogen through:
• Liquefaction – It can be easily liquefied compared to nitrogen
and hydrogen.
• Absorption in water.
 Haber’s Process
• Dry, purified hydrogen and nitrogen
are mixed together in a
compressor.
• It is then passed in an electrically
heated catalytic chamber.
• Mixture of the ammonia formed
along with the residual nitrogen
and hydrogen exchange their heat
with the incoming unreacted
nitrogen and hydrogen mixture.
• The mixture of the outgoing gases
are passed through the condenser.
• Ammonia gets liquefied first, whereas nitrogen
and hydrogen do not liquefy easily.
• The unchanged nitrogen and hydrogen are recirculated
through the plant to get more ammonia.
• The ammonia which is produced is stored as liquid
under pressure.
Things to note:
• The reaction is exothermic, hence low temperature will favour the
synthesis.
• Four volume of reactants produce 2 volumes of ammonia, hence high
pressure favours the formation of ammonia.
• Catalyst and promoter is used to speed up the reaction.
• External heating is not required.
• Purification of nitrogen and hydrogen is necessary as impurities such
as CO2, CO and traces of sulphur compounds poison catalysts.