UNREDUCED CATALYST FOR AMMONIA SYNTHESIS AND PROCESS FOR ITS MANUFACTURE

摘要

A catalyst for ammonia synthesis having a high catalytic activity and good physical-chemical characteristics is prepared by gradually melting an iron bar above a steel crucible cooled on the outside with water. The melting is carried out uninterruptedly over a period of 16 minutes by directing onto the melting end of the bar an oxygen stream, e.g. at a pressure of 0.15 atm. An oxidizing melting reaction of the iron occurs which being exothermal has the effect of raising the temperature. The ferrous oxide flows into the crucible and concomitantly are added the promoters, i.e. Al2O3, K2CO3, SiO2, CaO. An inhomogeneous fluid mass results. The crucible is then closed and oxygen is fed in, producing inside the crucible (over a period of 3 minutes) a pressure of 2 kg/sq cm. Feeding of oxygen is then stopped and the crucible is immediately discharged. The molten mass is cooled, crushed, sized and packed.