In 1798, political economist Thomas Malthus stated that a major crisis like a famine was just a few decades away if the human population continued to increase faster than the world food supply1.
By the 1900s, the human population had grown tremendously, and as a result, so did the need for food1. It was discovered that intensive farming reduced the soil’s nutrients which led to lower production of crops1. To increase the food supply, farmers began to add nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil in the form of animal manure1. The key nutrient that was being provided by these methods was Nitrogen1.
I hear you thinking, “Can we not use the Nitrogen from the air?” And the answer is No. Even though our atmosphere is 80% Nitrogen, that form of Nitrogen cannot be used by plants1. However, bacteria in our ecosystems naturally converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form called ammonia (NH3) that can be used in a process called Biological Nitrogen Fixation1. Unfortunately, this natural fixation of nitrogen was not enough to increase food production1.
Someone had to find a way to artificially synthesize ammonia, or the world would die due to starvation.
In 1908, Haber and Bosch found a solution and developed a process that combined nitrogen from the air with hydrogen from natural gas to produce liquid ammonia1. This process was inexpensive and produced large quantities of liquid ammonia which would be used in fertilizers1. Thanks to The Haber-Bosch process, our agricultural industry boomed and led to a steady production of food1.
Ammonia (NH3) is an essential chemical that we need for survival. Most ammonia is produced for agricultural practices to be used as fertilizer 2. We have also found different ways to use ammonia. Ammonia is found in cleaning products, like Windex, in the form of Ammonium Hydroxide 3 . Household Ammonia or Ammonium Hydroxide (a mixture of ammonia and water) is effective at cleaning grease and oil because ammonia is alkaline in nature 4. Dirt and grease are slightly acidic. To clean a surface that falls on the acidic side, we have to use a product that is alkaline to neutralize the acid 4. So next time when you are cleaning a greasy stove, try an ammonia-based product.
Most household cleaning products hold a low concentration of ammonia. These solutions are tolerable and won’t be harmful, but can cause coughing, nose and throat irritation 2. My best advice when handling ammonia -based cleaning products is to always wear gloves to prevent a burning sensation on your hands.
Even though ammonia is necessary for our survival because it is a fertilizer and helps us grow crops, the production of ammonia is unsustainable. The Haber - Bosch Process emits about 450 million tons of carbon dioxide which accounts for 1.2 % of global carbon dioxide emissions5. Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat and raises global temperature which leads to climate change5. Furthermore, fertilizers can run off into the water streams and can lead to excessive plant and algae growth that can reduce food resources and oxygen in water6. Carbon Dioxide also reacts with water molecules in the ocean water to produce carbonic acid which acidifies the ocean6. This continues to damage the coral reefs and other aquatic life6.
Ironically, the ammonia that helps feed our booming population also contributes to climate change and damages our ecosystem. We may no longer have food supply problems, but we now have a dying planet. Unfortunately, in the world of 8 billion people we simply cannot survive without synthetic fertilizers. The Haber-Bosch process may be completely disastrous, but it has also become necessary for survival. Therefore, it is indeed one of the most important discoveries of recent times.
1Chrispeels M. J. & Gepts P. L. (2018). Plants genes & agriculture : sustainability through biotechnology. Sinauer Associates ; Oxford University Press.
2 New York State Department of Health. (2004, July 28). The facts about ammonia. https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/ammonia_tech.htm
3 Cleveland Clinic. (2022, April 11). Ammonia levels.
4 Chemical Safety Facts. (2022, October 14). Ammonia. https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/chemicals/ammonia/
5 Guidehouse Insights. Green ammonia and the electrification of the haber-bosch process reduce carbon emissions. https://guidehouseinsights.com/news-and-views/green-ammonia-and-the-electrification-of-the-haber-bosch-process-reduce-carbon-emissions
6 Environment Canada and Health
Canada (2001) Priority substances
list assessment report for ammonia in the aquatic environment. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/migration/hc-sc/ewh-semt/alt_formats/hecs-sesc/pdf/pubs/contaminants/psl2-lsp2/ammonia/ammonia-eng.pdf
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