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The evolution of high-pressure chemistry: How did Haber and Bosch solve the problem of ammonia production 100 years ago?
Ammonia production technology has undergone tremendous changes over the past century, the most influential of which is the Haber-Bosch process. This technology is not only the basis for industrial ammonia production, but is also crucial to the development of global food production and the chemical industry.
The importance of ammonia in agriculture cannot be underestimated. It is a key raw material for synthetic fertilizers and plays a vital role in promoting crop yields.
Looking back in history, from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, with the development of industrialization, the demand for nitrogen fertilizers increased dramatically, which prompted chemists to look for new sources of ammonia. Prior to this, nitrogen fertilizers relied mainly on mining and animal and plant fertilizers, but the supply of these resources could not meet the growing demand.
Hubber and his assistant Robert Le Rosingeau conducted key experiments in 1909, developing an apparatus capable of operating at high pressures and demonstrating that ammonia could be synthesized from nitrogen and hydrogen. The breakthroughs in high pressure and catalyst technology required for this process marked an important milestone in the history of ammonia production.
Late in his career, Hubble said, "The world's fertilizer problem can be solved by our efforts," a statement that accurately captures his profound understanding of science and human well-being.
After Haber successfully synthesized ammonia in the laboratory for the first time, the German chemical company BASF immediately took a fancy to this technology and commissioned Carl Bosch to expand this laboratory technology to industrial production. Bosch not only successfully scaled the technology, but also optimized the catalyst, which greatly increased the output of ammonia and finally achieved industrial production in 1913. At that time, up to 20 tons of ammonia could be produced every day, which greatly promoted the German chemical industry.
During World War I, synthetic ammonia became the core of Germany's military capabilities, and the situation of the autumn water and the sky being the same color made many countries realize how important it was to have a stable source of ammonia in war. The output of the Haber process was crucial during this period; without it, German military operations could have suffered a serious setback.
"The invention of ammonia not only changed the future of agriculture, but also reshaped the pattern of global warfare." This is a true portrayal of the historical significance of the Haber process.
Haber and Bosch eventually won the Nobel Prize for their major contributions to ammonia synthesis and high-pressure chemistry. Through their efforts, the efficiency of ammonia production has been greatly improved, fundamentally changing the operating mode of the entire chemical industry.
<Today, ammonia production is still based on the Haber-Bosch process, and with the continuous improvement of catalyst technology and processes, efficiency and environmental impact are also gradually improving. In fact, according to statistics, ammonia production accounts for about 1% to 2% of global energy consumption and is also one of the important sources of global carbon emissions. This has forced today's scientists to rethink how to produce ammonia while reducing its impact on the environment.
At the same time, the production method of hydrogen is also facing innovation. Green hydrogen generated by clean energy is gradually entering the ammonia manufacturing process, making future ammonia production more sustainable. With the advancement of science and technology, the world is moving towards a new era of more environmentally friendly ammonia production.
However, faced with such fundamental and enduring challenges, we cannot help but ask: How can ammonia production be achieved sustainably while meeting global food needs in the coming decades?
