7.2 The Contracts with BASF
Haber was an electrochemist, and although in 1899 he had shown little
enthusiasm when Engler had exhorted his staff at the Hochschule to tackle
the problem of nitrogen fixation, the developing importance of the production of nitric oxide (NO) in a high-voltage electric arc had led him as a matter
of professional integrity to address the problem. In 1907 he and his student
Adolf Koenig published their first paper on the topic.
9 Conventional wisdom
at the time (Chap. 3) demanded that it was preferable to proceed at the
highest possible temperatures to obtain the highest equilibrium %NO, but
Haber and Koenig argued that lower temperatures would minimise the
decomposition of the oxide and thereby possibly increase the overall yield.
Haber conducted experiments at different pressures, he cooled the arc from
the wall as well as the anode and determined the relationship between energy
consumption and frequency up to about 50 kHz. His best results gave yields
of around 10% NO in air at decreased pressure with conversion efficiencies
10–15% higher than conventional methods and this was a significant
conclusion.
10
The publication of this work however, soon attracted the attention of
BASF at Ludwigshafen. They had an interest in almost every kind of chemical
innovation and they had already set up a research program into nitrogen
fixation. During 1903 for example the young Carl Bosch had been investigating the possibility of barium cyanide synthesis from barytes, coke and
nitrogen gas, but it lasted barely a year. Prior to that in 1899, BASF had
established their own research program into fixation via the electric arc, and as
cheap electricity was an essential component in the success of this technology,
the early 1900s saw BASF begin preparations for the construction of a pilot
plant at the Alz hydrostation in Bavaria. BASF were also acutely aware of
developments in the electric arc process in Norway—a country blessed with
high hydro-plateaux—and made an agreement with Norsk-Hydro, who
owned the franchise for the Birkland-Eyde design in December 1906. As a
result of this cooperation BASF set up an experimental plant at Kristianssand
in southern Norway where various arc furnaces were tested. Haber’s publication therefore drew immediate recognition from BASF.
Ever since Crooke’s speech (Chap. 3), Karl Engler, Professor and Rector of
Karlsruhe University, was aware of the importance of nitrogen fixation, he
was also aware of the potential of his new young professor. But crucially,
Engler sat on the Board of Directors
11 at BASF and he was also aware of the
company’s strategic aims in this area and their interest in Haber’s work. Early
7 Taking Care of Business
147
Haber was an electrochemist, and although in 1899 he had shown little
enthusiasm when Engler had exhorted his staff at the Hochschule to tackle
the problem of nitrogen fixation, the developing importance of the production of nitric oxide (NO) in a high-voltage electric arc had led him as a matter
of professional integrity to address the problem. In 1907 he and his student
Adolf Koenig published their first paper on the topic.
9 Conventional wisdom
at the time (Chap. 3) demanded that it was preferable to proceed at the
highest possible temperatures to obtain the highest equilibrium %NO, but
Haber and Koenig argued that lower temperatures would minimise the
decomposition of the oxide and thereby possibly increase the overall yield.
Haber conducted experiments at different pressures, he cooled the arc from
the wall as well as the anode and determined the relationship between energy
consumption and frequency up to about 50 kHz. His best results gave yields
of around 10% NO in air at decreased pressure with conversion efficiencies
10–15% higher than conventional methods and this was a significant
conclusion.
10
The publication of this work however, soon attracted the attention of
BASF at Ludwigshafen. They had an interest in almost every kind of chemical
innovation and they had already set up a research program into nitrogen
fixation. During 1903 for example the young Carl Bosch had been investigating the possibility of barium cyanide synthesis from barytes, coke and
nitrogen gas, but it lasted barely a year. Prior to that in 1899, BASF had
established their own research program into fixation via the electric arc, and as
cheap electricity was an essential component in the success of this technology,
the early 1900s saw BASF begin preparations for the construction of a pilot
plant at the Alz hydrostation in Bavaria. BASF were also acutely aware of
developments in the electric arc process in Norway—a country blessed with
high hydro-plateaux—and made an agreement with Norsk-Hydro, who
owned the franchise for the Birkland-Eyde design in December 1906. As a
result of this cooperation BASF set up an experimental plant at Kristianssand
in southern Norway where various arc furnaces were tested. Haber’s publication therefore drew immediate recognition from BASF.
Ever since Crooke’s speech (Chap. 3), Karl Engler, Professor and Rector of
Karlsruhe University, was aware of the importance of nitrogen fixation, he
was also aware of the potential of his new young professor. But crucially,
Engler sat on the Board of Directors
11 at BASF and he was also aware of the
company’s strategic aims in this area and their interest in Haber’s work. Early
7 Taking Care of Business
147