Ammonia Conversion Enhanced By Magnesium Chloride Absorption

Ammonia conversion with Haber-Bosch catalysts can be increased to above 95% by simultaneously  and selectively adsorbing the ammonia  with magnesium chloride.  The maximum conversion possible depends both the reaction and the absorption equilibria.  The conversion rate is a weighted harmonic average of the rates of reaction and of absorption.  Under the conditions used, the chemical kinetics control at very low conversion, but the absorption rate is controlling at high conversion.  This means that the overall reaction rate is as much as fifty times slower than the chemical kinetically controlled limit.  The absorption rates could be increased by using a larger mass of much smaller particles, possibly supported on an inert substrate.  The results presented provide a basis for designing small plants for distribute ammonia production