Ammonia is a very important and versatile chemical compound used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. It can be found in products such as fertilizers, cleaners, and refrigerants, among others. In this article, we will learn about the various ammonia production processes and then discuss the Haber-Bosch process of ammonia production in detail.

Applications of Ammonia

Ammonia has a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. Some examples are:

• Fertilizers: ammonia is an important component of many fertilizers, as it provides nitrogen to plants. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth and ammonia is one of the most common ways of supplying it.
• Refrigeration: Ammonia is a very effective refrigerant and is commonly used in industrial and commercial refrigeration systems.
• Nitric acid production: Nitric acid is a chemical compound used in the production of explosives, plastics, and medicines. It can be produced from ammonia and air.
• Food processing: Ammonia is sometimes used as a preservative in food processing because it kills bacteria and keeps food fresh.
• Cleaning and sanitizing: Ammonia is a powerful cleaning agent commonly used in cleaning products and disinfectants.
• Organic chemistry: Ammonia is used as a reagent in the production of many organic chemicals, such as aniline and ammonium chloride.

Ammonia Production Processes

The main ways of producing ammonia are:

Haber-Bosch process: this process consists of reacting natural gas with air, using high temperatures and pressures. The chemical reaction produces ammonia and water. The Haber-Bosch process is the most widely used method for producing ammonia.

Ammonia production from biomass: Instead of using natural gas as a feedstock, biomass, such as organic waste or biogas, can be used to produce ammonia. This can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote sustainability.

Ammonia production from ammonium nitrate: Ammonium nitrate is a natural fertilizer that can be used as a feedstock to produce ammonia. The process involves the oxidation of ammonium nitrate with sulfuric acid and heat.

Ammonia production from nitrogen and hydrogen: Another way to produce ammonia is by the reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen. This reaction is carried out at high temperatures and pressures and uses an iron catalyst.

Haber-Bosch Process of Ammonia Production

The most widespread production of ammonia is carried out by a chemical process known as Haber-Bosch, developed in the early 20th century. This process consists of reacting natural gas with air, using high temperatures and pressures. The chemical reaction produces ammonia and water.

The Haber-Bosch process is a method of ammonia production that is carried out using the following compounds and equipment.

• Natural gas: It is used as a feedstock to produce ammonia. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons extracted from the earth and processed to remove impurities and contaminants.
• Air: it needs to react with natural gas to produce ammonia. Air is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
• Catalysis: A catalyst is used to accelerate the chemical reaction between natural gas and air. One of the most common catalysts is iron.
• Pressure: the production of ammonia requires high pressures, which are achieved using pumps or compressors.
• Temperature: the chemical reaction between natural gas and air occurs at high temperatures, which are achieved through heaters.

Once all the ingredients are gathered and the equipment is prepared, the ammonia production process begins by mixing natural gas and air. This mixture is heated and subjected to high pressures in a reactor, using the catalyst and heater. The chemical reaction produces ammonia and water.

The ammonia is separated from the water and purified by distillation to remove impurities and contaminants. Once purified, the ammonia is stored and transported to the location where it is needed for final use.

The stages of the Haber-Bosch process are presented in more detail below:

1. Feedstock preparation for the ammonia production process:

The first step is to obtain natural gas, which will be used as feedstock to produce ammonia. Natural gas is extracted from the ground and processed to remove impurities and contaminants.

2. Mixing natural gas and air:

Once the natural gas is obtained, it is mixed with air in an appropriate proportion. The air is necessary to react with natural gas to produce ammonia.

3. Heating and pressurization:

The mixture of natural gas and air is subjected to high temperatures and pressures in a reactor. This is achieved using heaters and pumps or compressors.

4. Chemical reaction during ammonia production:

During the chemical reaction, natural gas reacts with air to produce ammonia and water. The iron catalyst accelerates the chemical reaction.

The reactor is a key component of the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia production. It is a closed vessel in which natural gas is mixed with air and subjected to high temperatures and pressures to promote the chemical reaction that produces ammonia and water.

The size and capacity of the reactor will depend on the amount of ammonia to be produced. Reactor sizes can range from small laboratory reactors to large industrial reactors. Reactors can also have different shapes and designs, depending on the needs and requirements of the process.

In the Haber-Bosch process, the reactor is a key component, and it must be properly designed and constructed to ensure the efficiency and safety of the process. The reactor must be able to withstand the high temperatures and pressures necessary to promote the chemical reaction and must also have safety measures in place to prevent accidents.

5. Ammonia separation and purification:

Once the ammonia is produced, it is separated from the water and purified by distillation to remove impurities and contaminants.

To separate the ammonia from the water, the mixture is heated at a high temperature so that the ammonia evaporates. The evaporated ammonia is collected and condensed, forming droplets of pure ammonia liquid. The water does not evaporate at the same temperature as the ammonia and remains at the bottom of the vessel.

Once the ammonia has been separated from the water, it is necessary to purify it to remove impurities and contaminants. Chemical and physical processes such as fractional distillation, filtration, and precipitation can be used for this purpose.

6. Ammonia storage and transport:

Once the ammonia has been purified, it is stored and transported to where it is needed for final use. Fig. 2 below shows a typical ammonia production plant.

Measures to Reduce Environmental Impact during Ammonia Production

It is important to note that ammonia production can be a very polluting process, as it produces large amounts of nitrogen dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

In addition, the ammonia production process requires a large amount of energy, which can contribute to climate change.

For this reason, it is important for companies that produce ammonia to implement measures to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainability.

Some measures that can help reduce the environmental impact of ammonia production include:

• Use renewable energy sources to provide the energy needed for the process.
• Capture and recycle greenhouse gases produced during the process.
• Apply carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Use clean and more sustainable production techniques, such as ammonia production from biomass.

Conclusions

In summary, ammonia production is a chemical process that is carried out through the reaction between natural gas and air, using high temperatures and pressures. Although it is a very important and versatile compound, ammonia production can have a significant environmental impact. For this reason, companies producing ammonia must take steps to reduce their impact and promote sustainability.

Both crude oil and Petroleum are classified as fossil fuels because they are made up of hydrocarbon mixtures derived from pre-dinosaur creatures and plants that live in the ocean (diatoms). The remains of these plants and animals were preserved in the sediment and rock that accumulated over millions of years. The relics today referred to as crude oil or Petroleum were subjected to extreme levels of heat and pressure within these layers. In this discussion, the term “petroleum” refers to oil that is obtained by crushing rocks.

After crude oil has been recovered from the ground, it is transported to a refinery to undergo additional processing to produce more refined petroleum products. These goods derived from Petroleum include but are not limited to, certain oil and gas industry products such as gasoline, distillates such as diesel fuel and heating oil, petrochemical feedstocks, jet fuel, waxes, asphalt, and lubricating oils, to name just a few examples. A wide range of petroleum products and their uses are explained below in detail.

Properties of Petroleum

Physical properties of petroleum span various variations, such as its viscosity, density, boiling point, and color. Heavy fractions like asphaltene contain a greater concentration of metals than saturated and aromatic fractions. Light Petroleum may include trace levels of nitrogen and Sulphur, while heavier or extra-heavy crude oil is more likely to have higher nitrogen and Sulphur concentrations.

There are examples of Petroleum in the natural world in all three possible phases: solid, liquid, and gas. Petroleum fluids can be any shade from dark brown to bluish-black or black and may or may not exhibit bloom or fluorescence. In its solid or nearly solid-state, Petroleum is commonly referred to as “pitch” due to its dark color. After the lighter fractions have moved or evaporated, it was thought that these deposits would form. Gaseous petroleum deposits, sometimes including gasoline deposits, are also known as natural gas deposits.

Petroleum contains a wide variety of hydrocarbons, including simpler alkanes and more complex ones like cyclohexenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and asphaltenes. The building blocks of both petrochemicals and Petroleum are carbon and hydrogen. The chemical properties of petroleum can vary considerably from one another due to the significant number of methods by which the elements above can mix.

Top Petroleum Products and Their Uses

There is a list of oil and gas industry products. Some of these petroleum products and their uses are:

Gasoline

There is no difference between Gasoline and petrol, both refer to the same product. This clear liquid is produced as a byproduct of the fractional distillation process, which is applied to crude oil. Because of its high demand and extensive distribution, its price has been seen to climb and fall over the past many years.

Gasoline can be used in various devices and processes in addition to motor vehicles, compressors, and generators. Three main requirements must be met by gasoline before it can be used in an internal combustion engine. The fire must be able to burn evenly, that it be able to be started quickly in cold weather, and that it complies with all environmental standards.

Jet Fuel

Jet fuel production, which is used in aircraft worldwide, currently consumes around 10% of the crude oil mined worldwide. In the same vein as diesel, it is a blend of hydrocarbons, the precise composition of which differs depending on the source of the Petroleum. Kerosene’s primary purpose as a light source may no longer be as crucial as it once was, but it is still widely used worldwide as a fuel for cooking, as a space heater, and as a fuel for modern jet engines.

Even when exposed to the low temperatures typical of high-altitude flight, jet fuels should maintain their purity and ability to flow freely without any wax particles. The boiling point for jet fuel is -50 degrees Celsius. The fuel must be free of any particles of water that may be suspended in it so that ice does not form inside the fuel system.

Diesel Fuel and Heating Oil

Diesel fuel, sometimes known as diesel oil, is a flammable liquid used to fuel diesel engines. In most cases, it is manufactured using crude oil fractions that have lower volatility compared to those used to manufacture gasoline.

Diesel fuel is a type of fuel that is frequently utilized in internal combustion engines. These engines may be found in vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, and trains. In addition, it is used in gas turbines and other engines that use external combustion. Diesel has a higher energy and power density than gasoline. Diesel is more potent per unit of volume.

Lubricating Oils

Mineral oils are a type of lubricating oil that is obtained from various mineral sources. They are primarily made up of the distillation of petroleum hydrocarbons, which account for 80–90% of their composition, and they comprise 10–20% additives that affect the characteristics of the oil. Appliances that use this chemical as a source of heat or a coolant, for example, in the kitchen, the automobile, or other places, are highly prevalent. The temperature at which liquefied petroleum gas begins to boil is significantly lower than 25 degrees Celsius.

The viscosity of the lubricating oil is the primary criterion for classifying different types. The needs range from a dense, sticky material used to open gears or wire ropes to a fragile oil required for the high-speed spindles of textile machinery. In the middle of these two extremes is a broad spectrum of items, each with unique qualities. Oils for automobiles make up the most valuable portion of the market’s product offering.

Waxes

Kerosene and paraffin are two terms that are frequently interchanged; nevertheless, paraffin is a more refined and purified form of kerosene. Because of this, it is more suited for usage in the home, where less soot is produced when it is burned.

In addition to its function as a lubricant, paraffin wax has a solid state and a waxy consistency. Most of the time, it is stored in a room with a stable temperature. Paraffin, which has a melting temperature above 370 degrees Celsius, is used to make a wide variety of products, including waxing materials like Sealand and crayons, wax for surfboards and floors, candles, and cosmetics like Vaseline.

Asphalt

Asphalt, which can be either black or brown, is a substance that resembles Petroleum and can either be a sticky liquid or glassy solid in consistency. Mining it from subsurface sources is one option, although it can also be obtained as a byproduct of the processing of Petroleum.

The asphalt used for these applications can take the form of a thin membrane sprayed on and then covered with earth for protection against weathering and mechanical damage. Alternatively, the asphalt can be of a greater thickness and typically include riprap, as is the case with dam facings, canal and reservoir linings, and other harbor and sea constructions (crushed rock). Asphalt is used in various applications, including coatings, floor tiling, roofs, soundproofing, waterproofing, and other aspects of building construction, in addition to several industrial products, such as batteries. An asphaltic emulsion is made by suspending tiny globules of asphalt in water, and this emulsion is subsequently put to use for various applications. The following table lists most of the products produced by the petroleum industry:

Oil and Gas Industry Products
Telephones	Cameras	Bandages	Hair Curlers	Drinking Cups	Ammonia	Gasoline
Solvents	Diesel fuel	Motor Oil	Bearing Grease	Heart Valves	Crayons	Parachutes
Ink	Floor Wax	Ballpoint Pens	Football Cleats	Enamel	Pillows	Dishes
Upholstery	Sweaters	Boats	Insecticides	Anesthetics	Artificial Turf	Artificial limbs
Bicycle Tires	Sports Car Bodies	Nail Polish	Fishing lures	Dentures	Model Cars	Folding Doors
Dresses	Tires	Golf Bags	Perfumes	Cold cream	Movie film	Contact lenses
Cassettes	Dishwasher parts	Tool Boxes	Shoe Polish	Fan Belts	Car Enamel	Shaving Cream
Motorcycle Helmet	Caulking	Petroleum Jelly	Transparent Tape	Refrigerators	Golf Balls	Toothpaste
Footballs	Detergents	Tents	House Paint	Surf Boards	Shower Curtains	Safety Glasses
CD Player	Faucet Washers	Antiseptics	Clothesline	Clothes	Toothbrushes	Ice Chests
Curtains	Food Preservatives	Basketballs	Soap	Combs	CD’s & DVD’s	Paint Brushes
Vitamin Capsules	Antihistamines	Purses	Shoes	Vaporizers	Balloons	Sun Glasses
Dashboards	Cortisone	Deodorant	Shoelace Aglets	Nylon Rope	Candles	Trash Bags
Putty	Dyes	Panty Hose	Refrigerant	Water Pipes	Hand Lotion	Roller Skates
Percolators	Life Jackets	Rubbing Alcohol	Linings	Shampoo	Wheels	Paint Rollers
Skis	TV Cabinets	Shag Rugs	Electrician’s Tape	Guitar Strings	Luggage	Aspirin
Tool Racks	Car Battery Cases	Epoxy	Paint	Antifreeze	Football Helmets	Awnings
Mops	Slacks	Insect Repellent	Oil Filters	Denture Adhesive	Linoleum	Ice Cube Trays
Umbrellas	Yarn	Fertilizers	Hair Coloring	Speakers	Plastic Wood	Electric Blankets
Roofing	Toilet Seats	Fishing Rods	Lipstick	Tennis Rackets	Rubber Cement	Fishing Boots
Eyeglasses	Synthetic Rubber	Glycerin	Dice

Indirect products obtained from Petroleum

CDs and DVDs

The creation of CDs and DVDs involves the utilization of polycarbonate plastics, which are generated from Petroleum. When compact discs were first manufactured, lubricants made from Petroleum were necessary to ensure that the discs could spin freely.

Chewing Gum

Petroleum wax is used as the starting material in the production of chewing gum. This medication is permitted by the FDA, provided that particular UV absorbance constraints are satisfied. The same paraffin wax coating minimizes foaming while preparing cheese, fresh vegetables, and chicken nuggets. Also, some over-the-counter medications for gas relief contain paraffin wax.

Aspirin

Without the use of Petroleum, one of the world’s most widely prescribed medicines could not be produced. Benzene, a hydrocarbon derived from Petroleum, is utilized to treat pain and inflammation.

Clothing

You probably have quite a few pieces of polyester clothes, even if you strive to wear solely wool or cotton. Sixty percent of the world’s clothes are made from polyester, a synthetic fabric derived from petroleum. We can recycle cotton garments, but polyester garments cannot be recycled in this manner.

Dentures

Dentures can be constructed using various components, such as acrylic resin, a hydrocarbon petroleum product, porcelain, metal, nylon, and even nylon fibers. The hue of this acrylic resin can alter to make it appear more like gum by mimicking its texture. Since oil is also an ingredient in toothpaste, consuming it might contribute to the upkeep of healthy teeth. The widespread use of poloxamer 407, derived from Petroleum, facilitates the dissolution of oil-based compounds in water.

Lipstick

It’s possible to make lipstick and other cosmetics out of paraffin wax, a synthetic wax also frequently used to produce chewing gum and scented candles.

Shampoo

A cosmetic spray called dry shampoo, also known as liquified petroleum gas is applied to wash and air-dried hair freshly. Propane and butane are the two components that makeup liquefied petroleum gas, also known by their acronym LPG. Keep in mind, as well, that the refining of oil results in the production of petrochemicals, which are then employed in the manufacturing process of the plastic shampoo bottle. This cycle includes items such as plastic water bottles and other everyday plastics.

Fig. 1 below shows a comprehensive list of products made from the oil and gas industry.

Conclusion

Tar (or oil) sands on the earth’s surface and underground pools or basins in the microscopic cracks and fissures inside sedimentary rocks contain crude oil and other hydrocarbons in liquid or gaseous form. Petrol is the term used to describe fuels refined from crude oil and gas’s naturally occurring hydrocarbons.

The manufacture of petrochemicals can also use coal, natural gas, and biomass. Density, viscosity, and boiling point variations are the most frequently cited examples of the physical properties of petroleum. The oil and gas industry products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, diesel fuel, asphalt, road oil, and feedstocks. These petroleum products and their uses include manufacturing the chemicals, polymers, and synthetic materials that are included in virtually every product we use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which product derived from Petroleum has been used the most frequently daily?

Gasoline use in the United States is far higher than any other petroleum product. In 2021, the United States used around 8.8 million barrels per day, or 369 million gallons per day, of finished motor gasoline, which accounted for approximately 44% of the country’s overall consumption of Petroleum.

Do you know how to characterize the chemical properties of Petroleum?

The primary components of Petroleum are hydrogen and carbon; however, it also contains minute amounts of other elements, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and various metals, such as vanadium, cobalt, and nickel. Alkanes (also known as paraffin), naphthenes, aromatics, and hetero compounds are a few examples of the most common organic molecules.

How many products can you think of related to the oil industry?

There are around 6,000 everyday oil and gas industry products, including dishwasher detergent, solar panels, food preservatives, eyeglasses, DVDs, children’s toys, tires, and heart valves, to name just a few examples.