Subject: Chemistry

Teacher: Mr. Z. Clarke

Group Members:
Jheanna Roberts
Anya-Lee Miller
Sanique Jarrett
Pre-University Science -2
THE HABER PROCESS








The Haber process developed by
the German chemist Fritz Haber.

It is a method used to make
ammonia directly from nitrogen
and hydrogen.

The nitrogen is obtained from
fractional distillation of liquefied
air.

The hydrogen is derived mainly
from natural gas and water in
steam reforming.

The carbon monoxide produced is combined
with more steam to form hydrogen and
carbon dioxide.


The combination of nitrogen and hydrogen
into ammonia is a reversible reaction.


The forward reaction is exothermic and
results in a decrease in volume.

For commercial production, a temperature of
about 450 degrees Celsius is used with a
catalyst.

This produces a yield of about 10% ammonia

The catalyst is usually iron mixed with small
amounts of promoters such as potassium oxide
and aluminium oxide.

For commercial production, the pressure ranges
from about 200- 400 atmospheres.
SEPARATING THE AMMONIA
As the equilibrium mixture of gases leaves the
reactor, the temperature of the mixture is
lowered enough for the ammonia to turn into a
liquid, while the nitrogen and hydrogen remain
as gases.
About 10% ammonia is
produced per cycle. However, a
yield of about 98% is obtained
by recycling the gases.
USES OF AMMONIA
1. Used in the agriculture and fertilizer industry.
2. Forms nitric acid, which is used to
manufacture:
Ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
Dyes.
Fibres and plastics.
Explosives, such as ammonium nitrate,
trinitrotoluene (TNT) and nitroglycerine.


4. To make cyanides, which are used
to:
Manufacture synthetic polymers,
such as nylon and acrylics.
Extract gold from ore bodies.


INDUSTRIAL USES OF AMMONIA

1.Widely used in fertilizer
2.Pharmaceutical
3.Air conditioning
4.Tanner Industry
5.Excellent sensor alternative
6.Making other chemical

IMPACT OF AMMONIA INDUSTRY ON THE
ENVIRONMENT
Large amounts of ammonia and nitrogenous
compounds end up in the environment
because ammonia is used in the fertilizer and
agriculture industry.

Exposure to ammonia can cause severe
irritation at low concentrations and can be
fatal at high concentrations.
Ammonium and nitrate fertilizers are water
soluble and are easily washed out from
farmlands into the waterways.

Excess fertilizers in rivers and streams can
cause Eutrophication where excess
nutrients in the water stimulate rapid plant
growth (Algal Bloom) on the surface of the
water .
Algal bloom prevents light from reaching
plants lower in the water .

These plants die and bacteria use up the
dissolved oxygen in the water for
decomposition.

This results in the death of fish and other
aquatic animals which rely on oxygen for
respiration
Since groundwater and surface water are
used as sources of domestic water supply,
fertilizers can pollute drinking water.

Too much nitrates in drinking water is
poisonous to infants.

It causes METHAEMOGLOBINAEMIA or blue
baby syndrome.
The nitrates are converted to nitrites, which
combine with haemoglobin more readily
than oxygen.
This starves the body of oxygen and results
in a bluish skin discolouration
The ability to metabolize nitrate is developed
as children get older, hence reducing the
occurrence of this problem with age.
Nitrates are potentially carcinogenic in
humans as nitrites derived from
nitrates may react with amines in the
diet to form carcinogenic compounds.

The maximum concentration of nitrate
in drinking water is 10 ppm, which is
considered to be safe.