UB Research Team Develops Carbon-Free Ammonia Production Method
- A new study led by the University at Buffalo (UB) presents a revolutionary process to produce ammonia without a carbon footprint, addressing the environmental challenges associated with traditional ammonia production methods.
- Ammonia, vital for global food production and synthetic fertilizers, has long been produced through the Haber-Bosch process. However, this method is energy-intensive, accounting for about 2% of the world’s energy consumption, and relies heavily on fossil fuels for hydrogen production. Despite its role in supporting the population growth of the last century, the sustainability of this process is increasingly questioned.
Nature-Inspired Approach to Ammonia Production
- Drawing inspiration from nature's nitrogen fixation, the UB research team has developed a novel plasma-electrochemical reactor. This reactor converts nitrogen from the air and water directly into ammonia with zero carbon emissions, a significant step toward a greener alternative to traditional methods. The process operates at room temperature and achieves a continuous ammonia production rate of approximately 1 gram per day over 1,000 hours.
- The research, detailed in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, positions this innovation as a potential breakthrough in green ammonia synthesis, capable of achieving industrially competitive production rates and reaction stability.
A More Sustainable Solution for Global Fertilizer Needs
- Ammonia, often referred to as the "chemical that feeds the world," is vital for fertilizers used in global agriculture. However, the current Haber-Bosch process, which has not been modernized in over 100 years, is energy-intensive and generates a large carbon footprint. Unlike this conventional process, the new UB-led approach requires only air and water, and can be powered by renewable electricity.
- Chris Li, the study's corresponding author and assistant professor of chemistry at UB, explains, "Our process only requires air and water, and can be powered by renewable electricity," providing a more sustainable solution to ammonia production.
Mimicking Nature's Nitrogen Cycle
- In nature, lightning strikes provide the energy to break nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere, forming nitrogen oxides, which then convert into ammonia in soil through bacterial action. The UB team replicates this process in two steps, using plasma to convert humidified air into nitrogen oxide fragments, followed by a copper-palladium catalyst to convert these fragments into ammonia.
- The catalyst stabilizes nitrogen dioxide intermediates created by the plasma, enabling the team to efficiently convert multiple nitrogen oxide compounds into ammonia. The use of a graph theory algorithm allowed the researchers to design the catalyst to enhance the conversion process, ensuring efficient ammonia production.
Scaling Up for Global Impact
- The UB team is now focused on scaling up the reactor and exploring partnerships with industry to commercialize it. Unlike the Haber-Bosch process, which requires large, centralized plants, the UB reactor can be deployed at a much smaller scale, such as within a medium-sized shipping container with solar panels. This flexibility could allow ammonia production on demand in regions with limited access to traditional ammonia production facilities.
- Li's vision is to bring ammonia production capabilities to underdeveloped areas, which could significantly enhance local agricultural productivity. "You can imagine our reactors in something like a medium-sized shipping container with solar panels on the roof. This can then be placed anywhere in the world and generate ammonia on demand," he says.
