In Haber’s process, hydrogen is obtained by reacting methane with steam in presence of \(\text{NiO}\) as catalyst. The process is known as steam reforming. Why is it necessary to remove \(CO\) when ammonia is obtained by Haber’s process?

Haber’s process

In the Haber’s process, the atmospheric nitrogen\((N_{2})\) is converted to ammonia\((NH_{3})\) by reacting it with hydrogen\((H_{2}).\) Here a metal catalyst is used and high temperatures and pressures are maintained.

\(N_{2} + 3H_{2}(g) \xrightarrow[]{\text{Fe(s)}}2NH_{3}(g)\)

Removal of \(CO\)

It is important to remove \(CO\) in the synthesis of ammonia as \(CO\) adversely affects the activity of the iron catalyst \((CO\) acts as poison for catalyst), used in Haber's process.

Also, it can combine with iron to from iron carbonyl \(Fe(CO)_{5}.\)