Haber process: Difference between revisions

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The Haber process is a high-temperasture high-pressure process for combining [[nitrogen]] and [[hydrogen]] gasses into [[ammonia]]. The reaction is relatively inefficient, with ~5% yield per iteration.
The Haber Process is a vital industrial process which produces "fixed" nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen, allowing the production of fertilizers and other nitrogen-based compounds. Hydrogen and nitrogen are run over a heated catalyst at pressure and bond to produce [[ammonia]].
: {{#Chem: N2 + 3H2 { Fe = 20MPa, 500-600°C } 2NH3}}
==Process==
The gasses are refrigerated, the ammonia removed as a liquid, and the process is repeated. Iron oxide can be used in place of iron, because it will be rapidly reduced by the hydrogen gas to water and pure iron.
===Atmospheric pressure===
====plain iron oxide====
Simple iron oxide can be used as a catalyst.
* The catalyst is purified {{#Chem:  Fe3O4}} ([[magnetite]]) with the oxygen removed by exposure to [[hydrogen]] at high temperatures. This provides the appropriate porosity.
* The reaction takes place at 440-450°C and atmospheric pressure
* Yield is 0.25% ammonia
* Scaling: 100-200cc of gas per minute over 1kg of catalyst
See "The Direct Synthesis of Ammonia"<ref>{{cite pub|publication=J. Chem. Educ.|title=The Direct Synthesis of Ammonia: A lecture table experiment|first1=Alfred T.|last1=Lars|url=http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed002p285|year=1925}}</ref> for a description of producing the catalyst.
====Tungsten====
Apparently Tungsten can also be used as a catalyst at about 600&deg;C and atmospheric pressure.<ref>{{cite pub
|title=Lecture experiment on the synthesis and combustion of ammonia
|first1= F.|last1=Fromm
|pages=230
|journal=Journal of Chemical Education
|year=1942
|volume=19
|issue=5
|doi=https://doi.org/10.1021/ed019p230
|url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed019p230
}}</ref>
====platinum====
 
===High Pressure===
====platinum====
* Yield: 4-5%
====promoted iron====
* The catalyst is doped purified iron {{#Chem: Fe + CaO + K2O + SiO2 + Al3O4}}
* The reaction takes place at 300–550 &deg;C and 50–250 atmospheres.
* Yield is over 90%
 
The gases are refrigerated, the ammonia removed as a liquid, and the process is repeated. Iron oxide can be used in place of iron, because it will be rapidly reduced by the hydrogen gas to water and pure iron.
 
==Hazards==
==Hazards==
* At the extremely high temperatures and pressures involved, rupture and explosion of the reaction vessel is a serious concern.
* At the extremely high temperatures and pressures involved, rupture and explosion of the reaction vessel is a serious concern.
==See Also==
==See Also==
* [[Ostwald Process]]
* [[Ostwald process]]
[[Category:Processes]]
[[Category:Processes]]
==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 16:06, 13 July 2020

The Haber Process is a vital industrial process which produces "fixed" nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen, allowing the production of fertilizers and other nitrogen-based compounds. Hydrogen and nitrogen are run over a heated catalyst at pressure and bond to produce ammonia.

Process

Atmospheric pressure

plain iron oxide

Simple iron oxide can be used as a catalyst.

  • The catalyst is purified Fe3O4 (magnetite) with the oxygen removed by exposure to hydrogen at high temperatures. This provides the appropriate porosity.
  • The reaction takes place at 440-450°C and atmospheric pressure
  • Yield is 0.25% ammonia
  • Scaling: 100-200cc of gas per minute over 1kg of catalyst

See "The Direct Synthesis of Ammonia"[1] for a description of producing the catalyst.

Tungsten

Apparently Tungsten can also be used as a catalyst at about 600°C and atmospheric pressure.[2]

platinum

High Pressure

platinum

  • Yield: 4-5%

  • The catalyst is doped purified iron Fe + CaO + K2O + SiO2 + Al3O4
  • The reaction takes place at 300–550 °C and 50–250 atmospheres.
  • Yield is over 90%

The gases are refrigerated, the ammonia removed as a liquid, and the process is repeated. Iron oxide can be used in place of iron, because it will be rapidly reduced by the hydrogen gas to water and pure iron.

Hazards

  • At the extremely high temperatures and pressures involved, rupture and explosion of the reaction vessel is a serious concern.

See Also

References