Industrial Chemistry 1: Chapter 4 - Ammonia Production

Industrial Chemistry 1: Chapter 4 - Ammonia Production

• Ammonia is a chemical compound with the formula NH₃.
• Molecular weight: 17 gm/mol
• Boiling point: -33.34 °C
• Freezing point: -77.7 °C
• Standard heat of formation: -46222 KJ/Kmol
• Soluble in chloroform, ether, and ethanol
• Density: 0.769 Kg/m³ at STP

Uses of Ammonia

• Refrigerant
• Medicine & Cosmetics
• Industry
• Solvent
• Lab reagent
• Metal treatment
• Preservative
• Transport of H₂

Uses of Ammonia in Industries

• Fertilizer industry
• Petroleum industry
• Mining industry
• Rubber industry
• Paper industry
• Leather industry

Manufacturing Processes for Ammonia

• Synthesis gas is produced by steam reforming or partial oxidation of hydrocarbon feedstock.
• Haber-Bosch Process
  • Industrial implementation of the reaction of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas.
  • The main industrial procedure to produce ammonia.
  • N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃ (ΔH = -92.4 kJ·mol⁻¹)

Haber-Bosch Process - Flow Scheme

• Nitrogen from the air (1:3 volume ratio with hydrogen).
• Hydrogen from natural gas.
• Reactants are heated to 400-450°C at 200 atm using an iron catalyst.
• Unreacted gases are recycled.
• Resulting gases are cooled to produce liquid ammonia.

Haber-Bosch Process - Process Flow Diagram

• Details a process flow diagram for ammonia synthesis using methane and air.
• Shows stages including a heater, reactor, waste heat boiler, compresso
• and a cooler.

Parameters for Ammonia Synthesis

• Temperature: 450°C (moderately high). Lower temperature increases equilibrium yield but slows reaction rate.
• Pressure: 200-1000 atm. High pressure is beneficial for both reaction rate and equilibrium position.
• Catalyst: Iron. Using a catalyst lowers needed temperature, which improves reaction position.

Le Chatelier's Principle and Equilibrium Yield

• Le Chatelier's principle states that for exothermic reaction, lower temperature favors products. Higher pressure favors a decrease in the total number of moles.
• Equilibrium yield of NH₃ increases with increased pressure and decreased temperature. Data can be found in graphs.

Catalyst used in ammonia synthesis

• Catalysts are typically based on FeO.
• Modern catalysts include promoters like oxides of Al, Zr, and K. These additions enhance catalyst porosity and temperature resistance.

Braun Purifier Process

• Synthetic ammonia (NH₃) is synthesized from natural gas.
• In this process, molecules of the natural gas are split into hydrogen and carbon. Hydrogen is refined and combines with nitrogen to produce ammonia.

Chemical Processes for Ammonia Production

• A flow diagram outlining distinct stages of ammonia production, starting from natural gas to the final ammonia synthesis.
• Different reforming steps are indicated.
• The various catalysts, temperatures, and pressures at each stage are listed.

Simple Block Diagram of Ammonia Production

• Visual diagram illustrating the different process steps required for creating ammonia.
• Shows specific catalyst types and respective volume requirements. (Example of KATALCO catalyst).

Ammonia Synthesis Reactor

• Diagrams show various reactor designs used in Ammonia synthesis processes (e.g., Kellogg, Topsoe reactor designs)

Ammonia Synthesis - Process Conditions & Capacities

• Table listing different generations of ammonia synthesis reactor types.
• Shows the corresponding cooling types, licensing companies, and process conditions like pressure, and production capacity.

Ammonia Synthesis - Overall Process Description

• The initial process removes impurities, mainly sulphur compounds from the raw gas stream.
• Steam reforming occurs in two stages (primary and secondary), the primary reforming occurring at high temperature (around 800°C). Air is added in the secondary reformer
• Carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide, and the remaining carbon oxides are converted back into methane through a methanation process.
• The final stage combines hydrogen and nitrogen at high pressure (100-350 bar) to produce the ammonia via an exothermic reaction.

Explore the fascinating world of ammonia production in this chapter of Industrial Chemistry 1. Learn about the properties, uses, and manufacturing processes of ammonia, including the crucial Haber-Bosch Process. This quiz will test your understanding of ammonia's role in various industries and its chemical characteristics.