Affordable Green Ammonia Through the Use of Striking Plasma
In the ongoing quest for sustainable energy solutions, a groundbreaking approach to ammonia production has emerged, combining nonthermal plasma and copper-iron catalysts. This innovative method, which bypasses the need for separate green hydrogen production, could revolutionise the industry and move away from the century-old Haber-Bosch process.
The study, focused on the development of an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of nitrogen directly from unfiltered and refined air, demonstrated increased electrocatalytic activity. The reaction had an almost 100% faradaic efficiency at 300 mA, making it significantly more efficient than classical water electrolysis and nitrogen-to-ammonia conversion.
Ammonia, the second most highly produced chemical in the world, is primarily used as a fertiliser. However, its production process is complex, multi-layered, and energy-intensive. Current methods, such as the Haber-Bosch process, contribute to carbon emissions, with most hydrogen for ammonia production sourced from fossil fuels, making ammonia responsible for 1.3% of global carbon emissions.
The new approach to ammonia production combines plasma and electrolysis, offering a potentially more efficient alternative. Progress in hydrogen production using non-traditional catalysts, like copper-iron, suggests promising advancements in the near future.
The addition of iron atoms to the surface of the material created stable Fe-O-Cu bridge bonds, enhancing its catalytic properties. While copper-based catalysts are explored in various chemical reactions, there is limited direct information on their application with nonthermal plasma specifically for green ammonia production.
Green ammonia is increasingly being produced using renewable electricity from sources like solar and wind to power electrolysis for hydrogen production, which is then combined with nitrogen to form ammonia. This process significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional methods.
To make the technology economically viable, the electrolyser component producing hydrogen needs further improvement. The combination of different technologies, such as direct nitrogen oxidation with plasma using copper & iron, and water electrolysis using cheap metals, could lead to commercial ammonia production machines. Ideally, an ammonia economy would rely on green ammonia generated from renewable energy.
The discovery of a new method to produce ammonia using plasma could be a game changer, as ammonia is more stable and energy-dense than hydrogen, making its transportation and storage easier. The potential benefits and challenges of these technologies require further research to optimise plasma-catalyst interactions and develop more efficient and scalable processes. This could involve detailed mechanistic studies and technoeconomic analyses.
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326858486_Green_ammonia_production_by_electrolysis_of_water_using_renewable_energy_A_review [2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-017-0045-2 [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468004618300608 [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/copper-loaded-hydroxyapatite
- The innovative method of ammonia production through a combination of nonthermal plasma and copper-iron catalysts, as seen in the study, could potentially revolutionize the environmental-science sector and redefine the current energy landscape within the industry.
- The increased electrocatalytic activity demonstrated in the study could lead to a more energy-efficient production of ammonia, which could significantly reduce carbon emissions in the finance and industry sectors.
- The potential benefits of the new plasma-based ammonia production method extend to the technology sector, as it could lead to the development of more efficient and scalable processes for green energy solutions, contributing to a future ammonia economy.
