An improved process for the manufacture and production of the nitrogen-hydrogen mixture in the synthetic production of ammonia

摘要

A mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen for use in the synthetic production of ammonia is prepared by subjecting to catalytic decomposition with water-vapour, a gas containing nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and preferably hydrogen, in such proportions that on subsequent removal of carbon dioxide and impurities a gas-mixture of the composition required for the production of ammonia, is obtained. The original gas-mixture may be prepared by mixing water-gas with a gas such as Dawson gas; or it may be prepared in a water-gas producer by introducing air with the water-vapour, in which case the heating periods may be less frequent, particularly if the air and/or water-vapour is preheated, for example by the gases leaving the generator, or they may be entirely dispensed with. The catalytic transformation of the carbon monoxide in the mixed gas so obtained is conveniently effected by the processes described in Specifications 27955/12, 8864/13, 27963/13, and 16494/14; and the resulting gases may be freed from carbon dioxide by washing with water under a pressure of 10 atmospheres or more, and from traces of carbon monoxide by washing with cuprous solutions. Specifications 12608/88, 2720/08, 26770/12, and 27117/12 are also referred to.