Describe where each substance required for this process comes from?

Question: Describe where each substance required for this process comes from?

I will explain where each substance required for this process comes from. The process I am referring to is the synthesis of ammonia, which is a widely used chemical in agriculture and industry. The main substances involved in this process are nitrogen, hydrogen, and iron.

Nitrogen is obtained from the air, which is about 78% nitrogen by volume. Air is compressed and passed through a filter to remove dust and other impurities. Then, it is cooled and liquefied by a series of heat exchangers and expansion valves. The liquid air is then distilled in a fractionating column to separate nitrogen from oxygen and other gases.

Hydrogen is obtained from natural gas, which is mainly composed of methane. Natural gas is mixed with steam and heated to a high temperature in a reformer. This causes a reaction between methane and water, producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is then reacted with more steam in a water-gas shift reactor, producing more hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is removed by a scrubber, and the hydrogen is purified by a pressure swing adsorption unit.

Iron is used as a catalyst for the synthesis of ammonia. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed or changed by it. Iron is obtained from iron ore, which is mined from the earth's crust. Iron ore is crushed and heated in a blast furnace with coke and limestone. This reduces the iron oxide in the ore to metallic iron, which melts and collects at the bottom of the furnace. The molten iron is then cast into bars or pellets, which are transported to the ammonia plant.