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Concept

Haber-Bosch process

A factory-like setup with interconnected pipes and a glowing bulb emitting smoke symbolizes the Haber-Bosch process, illustrating the industrial synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen.

Industrial reaction that combines atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen over an iron catalyst, at around 400°C and 200 atmospheres, to produce ammonia. Developed in Germany between 1909 and 1913. It made synthetic fertiliser cheap, broke the ceiling on agricultural yields, and is the reason world population could grow past two billion. By most accountings it now feeds roughly half the human population, and consumes about one per cent of global energy.

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