Ammonia

"Are you absolutely certain about the news from Carust?" Edel inquired, despite having already received the telegram. He wanted confirmation from the head of his guard.

"Yes, Your Highness, the information comes directly from someone close to Professor Huber, so it is indeed reliable," the chief guard affirmed, understanding the prince's cautious demeanor. He knew how much importance Edel placed on this particular piece of technology and had taken the initiative to familiarize himself with the details.

Ammonia plays a significant role in the national economy as one of the key inorganic chemical products. It is primarily used in the production of nitrogenous and compound fertilizers such as urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium phosphate, among others. Additionally, ammonia serves as a raw material in various other chemical products and industrial processes. The primary sources for synthesizing ammonia include natural gas, naphtha, heavy oil, and coal.

Recently, the potential of ammonia as a base for explosives had become particularly relevant. Having observed the implications of this application, the chief guard could appreciate why the crown prince was so keenly interested in this technology.

"How is the professor we dispatched to study doing?" Edel asked, shifting the topic to another concern.

"I've heard that he and Professor Hubble have gotten along famously, and he's quite well-regarded by the Germans," the chief guard relayed what he knew.

The professor they referred to was Bolvin, a chemist in his thirties or forties, originally from a grain merchant family in Constanta. Bolvin had shown a precocious interest in chemistry from a young age, engaging in numerous experiments, some of which were quite outlandish. As a child, he had a brief fascination with alchemy, hoping to transform materials into gold. However, under the strict guidance of his middle school chemistry teacher, Gabia, he abandoned these fantastical pursuits for serious scientific study. Gabia saw great potential in Bolvin and steered him away from what he considered a misguided path.

Bolvin's dedication led him to the University of Bucharest, where he studied chemistry, and later to Berlin University for advanced studies. Over seven years in Berlin, he earned both a master's and a doctoral degree.

Upon returning to Romania, Bolvin joined the faculty at the University of Bucharest as the deputy head of the Chemistry Department. He split his time between teaching and pursuing his own research interests, leading a somewhat eccentric existence, often characterized by his unkempt appearance and the ever-present smell of chemicals that clung to his lab coat.

His reputation as a brilliant but unconventional scientist reached the head of the guard through the university's principal, Big Schler, who recommended Bolvin for a national project. Initially, the head of the guard had his reservations, viewing Bolvin as somewhat of a mad scientist. However, after meeting and speaking with him, those doubts were dispelled by Bolvin's evident genius.

When Edel first met Bolvin, he too was taken aback by the scientist's disheveled appearance, reminiscent of the stereotypical 'mad scientist' with a white coat and wild hair. Despite this, Edel quickly recognized Bolvin's potential and sent him to Germany to further develop his expertise in chemical synthesis, particularly ammonia synthesis, which was of strategic importance to Romania.

In Germany, Bolvin worked in Professor Harz's laboratory, where he thrived, sharing and developing groundbreaking ideas. His collaboration was not just with Harz but also involved interactions with engineers from BASF, particularly Bosch, who played a crucial role in the industrialization of synthetic ammonia.

BASF, recognizing the potential of synthetic ammonia, had negotiated with Professor Haber to acquire his ammonia synthesis technology for industrial scaling. Discovering that the Romanians were already advancing in this area spurred BASF into action, leading to a partnership despite initial reluctance. The agreement stipulated that Romania would cover 20% of the development costs, with BASF handling the remainder. However, Romania was restricted to using the technology domestically and was prohibited from transferring it internationally.

Upon hearing of these developments, Edel was quick to approve the arrangement with BASF. Securing ammonia synthesis technology was a significant achievement, especially before the onset of World War I—a time when Germany closely guarded its chemical innovations.

The collaboration between Romanian and German scientists and engineers, under the guidance of chemist A. Mitas and engineer Bosch, involved extensive experimentation with over 6,500 tests and 2,500 different catalysts. They eventually developed an effective and affordable catalyst composed of iron with potassium and aluminum oxides as promoters. This breakthrough addressed several industrial challenges, such as the corrosion of steel by hydrogen at high temperatures and the durability of ammonia synthesis reactors.

With the successful industrialization of synthetic ammonia now confirmed, Edel planned to await Bolvin's return from Germany before commencing the construction of a synthetic ammonia plant in Romania. He estimated that an initial investment of 20 million lei was necessary to achieve adequate production capacity. Given the strategic importance of this project, Edel was prepared to invest the entirety of the remaining royal funds, which totaled 43 million lei after accounting for various expenditures and repayments of loans.

A week later, Professor Bolvin and his team returned to Romania. Edel summoned the esteemed chemist for a private meeting.

"Hello, Professor Bolvin," Edel greeted, aware of the scientist's tendency to eschew formalities.

"Hello, Your Highness," Bolvin responded casually, adding the honorific almost as an afterthought.

"How was your time in Germany?" Edel inquired, leading the conversation into a more comfortable territory for the professor.

Bolvin shared his experiences enthusiastically, detailing his productive collaboration with Hubble and their daily discussions on various chemical challenges. He expressed his eagerness to return to his laboratory to test new ideas sparked by his time in Germany.

Curious about Bolvin's future plans, Edel asked, "What do you plan to study next?"

"I'm going to research insecticides," Bolvin declared, explaining his motivation rooted in childhood observations of his father's struggles with grain affected by pests. He was determined to develop a solution that could help farmers protect their crops.

Impressed by Bolvin's initiative, Edel pledged 1 million lei to support the project, appreciating its potential impact on Romania's agricultural productivity.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness," Bolvin expressed his gratitude, eager to start on his new research endeavor.

After concluding their meeting, Edel was informed of a new development in the Balkans: Serbia and Bulgaria had signed an agreement, signaling the formation of the Balkan League. This news suggested that the political landscape was shifting, presenting Romania with potential opportunities. Edel remained vigilant, ready to navigate these emerging dynamics strategically.

The sudden annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 sent shockwaves through the Balkan region, hastening the formation of alliances among the local nations. Faced with the looming threat of Austria-Hungary, Serbia was particularly keen on securing Bulgaria's support. Although King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, a descendant of the German royal family from Prince Saxony Coburg Koda, harbored animosity towards both Russia and Austria, he recognized the necessity of an alliance with Serbia due to their shared interests and mutual external threats.

However, the alliance between Bulgaria and Serbia was fraught with difficulties and was far from straightforward. The two nations had differing primary objectives; Bulgaria viewed the Ottoman Empire as its principal adversary and sought Serbian assistance to acquire Macedonia and Thrace. Conversely, Serbia considered the Austro-Hungarian Empire as its major threat and was also interested in gaining a foothold in Macedonia, leading to conflicting interests between the two.

In November 1909, King Ferdinand visited Serbia to discuss potential alliances, but the talks yielded no positive outcomes. Seizing the opportunity, the Austro-Hungarian Empire intervened, attempting to thwart the alliance. It warned King Ferdinand not to rely on Serbian support in future conflicts and offered Bulgaria assistance, promising to support Bulgarian and Serbian claims in Macedonia should the Ottoman Empire attack.

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany also opposed the alliance, complicating matters further for Bulgaria and Serbia. Within Serbia, there was strong domestic support for an alliance with Bulgaria, driven by militant organizations that demanded immediate cooperation with other Slavic nations to counter Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.

In light of foreign policy needs and regional dynamics, Serbia sought to strengthen its position in the Balkans and expand its influence. Serbian Foreign Minister Milanovic stressed the importance of uniting with Bulgaria to maintain influence over Croatia and Slovenia.

Change came with the rise of Bulgaria's new coalition government, comprised of the People's Party led by Geschov and the pro-Russian Progressive Party. This government shifted its stance and initiated serious alliance negotiations with Serbia.

In April of the previous year, discussions between Serbian Radical Party leader Pasic and the Bulgarian ambassador to Serbia, Tosev, set the foundational goals of the alliance: to counter common enemies and to divide the European territories of the Ottoman Empire, particularly Macedonia, which was ethnically diverse with populations of Serbs, Greeks, Turks, Bulgarians, Albanians, and Romanians. Both Serbia and Bulgaria, along with Greece, had stakes in the region.

The European powers, especially Russia, played a pivotal role in the closeness between Bulgaria and Serbia. Russia, supporting the alliance, had been in extensive contact with Bulgaria since 1910. Despite Bulgaria's ambitions for a "Greater Bulgaria" and its efforts to align more closely with Russia, strategic differences emerged during negotiations.

Bulgaria had high expectations, hoping to gain Salonika and the Adriatic Fort with Russian support, but Russia feared becoming overly entangled in European conflicts. Additionally, Russia insisted that the alliance should focus on the Austro-Hungarian Empire and not antagonize Turkey, a stance Bulgaria rejected, leading to a deadlock in negotiations.

However, Russia's enthusiasm for Bulgarian cooperation was rekindled the following year, emphasizing that an alliance between Serbia and Bulgaria was a precondition for considering a broader alliance. Russian diplomats in Serbia and Bulgaria actively facilitated discussions, proposing a division of Macedonia where the southeastern corner would go to Bulgaria and the northwest to Serbia, with the contentious central region, including Skopje, to be adjudicated by the Russian Tsar.

The resolution of the Macedonian issue paved the way for the formal alliance between Bulgaria and Serbia. On March 12, 1912, the two countries signed a treaty of friendship and alliance, which included military obligations to support each other if attacked and a secret agreement to end Ottoman rule in Kosovo and Macedonia.

The military provisions of the treaty stipulated that Bulgaria would contribute 200,000 troops and Serbia 150,000 troops in the event of war, with 100,000 designated for operations in Macedonia. The Russian government, particularly Foreign Minister Sassonov, expressed satisfaction with the treaty, viewing it as a strong bulwark against German and Austro-Hungarian influences in the Balkans.

Simultaneously, Bulgaria sought to strengthen ties with Greece. Following his appointment as Prime Minister of Greece in 1910, Viniziros took an active interest in improving relations with Bulgaria. In 1911, discussions between Bulgaria and Greece on the Macedonian issue, although inconclusive, enhanced mutual understanding.

The signing of the Serbia-Bulgaria treaty and Italy's threats in the Dardanelles motivated Greece to adopt a more proactive stance. In April 1912, at Bulgaria's behest, Viniziros proposed an alliance, which led to secretive negotiations over the Macedonian issue, culminating in the Treaty of the Pasche Defense Alliance on May 29, 1912. This treaty stipulated military contributions against Turkey, with Bulgaria providing 300,000 troops and Greece 120,000 troops.

With alliances secured with Serbia and Greece, Bulgaria finally turned its attention to Romania, setting the stage for further diplomatic engagements in the Balkans.