A history of the production of Ammonia

Pre-1600 Ammonia Ammonia salts have been known of for many years and the term Hammoniacus sal appears in the writings of Pliny. As sal-ammoniac Ammonia was known to the alchemists as early as the 13th century, being mentioned by Albertus Magnus, while in the 15th century Basil Valentine showed that ammonia could be obtained by the action of alkalies on sal-ammoniac. The Harber Process The Haber process to produce ammonia from the nitrogen contained in the air was developed by Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch in 1909 and patented in It was first used on an industrial scale by the Germans during World War I. The ammonia was used to produce explosives to sustain their war effort.

At the end of the 19th century, Chilean nitrates, were the major source of nitrates at the time. It was clear, that this source would not be able to meet future demands. It was also realised that in the event of a war, any nation cut off from the Chilean supply, would not be able to make adequate amounts of munitions. Germany (native country) was in particular dependent on this source of nitrogen compounds, to manufacture explosives. Following the allied block of the South American ports, this supply was well and truly cut off. An alternative method of producing nitrates was needed. Haber promptly got to work on the problem. In World War 1, had Haber not invented the process, Germany would have been forced to surrender years earlier than it did. As a result the Haber-Bosch process indirectly, cost thousands of people their lives.