The industrial process in the manufacture of Ammonia

Massive production of Ammonia in an industrial sector is known as Haber process.

Nitrogen gas that is used in Haber process is obtained from the fractional distillation
of liquid air. Whereas, the hydrogen gas can be obtained by 2 methods, which are
the reaction between the steam and heated coke (carbon) and the reaction
between steam and natural gas consist mainly of methane.

There are 5 stage in the Haber process.The first stage is nitrogen and hydrogen gas
is combine in the mixer gases. In this mixer gases the gasses was combined and
scrubbed. The second stage in this process is occur in the compressor. In this
compressor the gas is compressed at 200 atmosphre and at 450 c. The third stage
is the gases is pass through the converter. The iron is used as the catalyst. The
fourth stage is the gases is cooled down until the ammonia condenses. And the last
stage is the ammonia produced is stored as liquid under pressure. The excess
hydrogen and nitrogen gases are recycled to continue the reaction. The nitrogen
and hydrogen gases are mixed in a ratio 1:3 in the Haber Process.

The uses of ammonia in industry

Used as fertilizer.

Nitrogen is absorbed by plants in the form of soluble nitrates to produce protein .

Ammonium ferteliser are chemical ferteliser that is used to replace elements in soil
used up by plants. Ammonium ions can be converted into nitrate ions by bacteria
living in the soil. The ferteliser with higher percentage of nitrogen is more effective.
It also can produce synthetic ferteliser. This can be formed through neutralization
between ammonia gas and acid.

a) Ammonium sulphate

Ammonia reacts with sulphuric acid through neutralization to produce

ammonia sulphate.

b) Ammonium nitrate

Ammonia reacts with nitric acid through neutralization to produces

ammonium nitrates.

c) Urea

Ammonia reacts with carbon dioxide at temperature of 200 and a pressure

of 200 atmosphere to produce urea
Used as cooling agent

Ammonia is used as cooling agent in the refrigerator. It has low melting point and
therefore is very volatile.

Explosive (TNT)

The explosive TNT is produced when the nitric acid and toluene reacts.

Synthetic fabric

Ammonia is used to synthesis the synthesis fabric.

Paint and colouring

Reaction of nitric acid and organic compound can produces various types of
colouring

Prevent coagulation of latex

Latex can be stored for longer period of time before exporting to other countries

Detergent

When ammonia reacts with oil from the plants, detergent is used.

Nitric acid

Nitric acid can be produced through oxidation of ammonia when platinum is used as
a catalyst.