Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Globally 131 million tons of ammonia were produced in 2010. The dominant ammonia
production process is the Haber-Bosch process invented in 1904 which requires high temperature
(~500°C) and high pressure (150-300 bar), in addition to efficient catalysts. Natural gas or coal is
used as the energy source of the ammonia industry. 1.87 tons of CO2 is released per ton of
ammonia produced. In the Haber-Bosch process, the presence of ppm level oxygen may poison the
commonly used Fe-based catalysts. In industry, extensive purification of N2 and H2 is needed and
this remarkably increases the overall cost of the process. Therefore researchers have been seeking
a simpler way for synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen separated from air.
In this study, the researchers first fabricated an electrochemical cell for ammonia synthesis. H2 (or
water) and N2 (or air) were passed through room temperature water first then filled into the
chambers of the cell.
A maximum ammonia production rate…..was achieved when a voltage of 1.6 V was applied. “In
conclusion, for the first time, this experiment clearly indicates that ammonia can be directly
synthesised from air and water at room temperature and one atmosphere.”
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/01/ammonia-20130130.html
Potentially, this can provide an alternative route for the mass production of the basic chemical
ammonia under mild conditions. Presently existing wind power generators that today have to be
powered down when there is no need for their electricity could instead be put to work synthesizing
ammonia fertilizers.
Rong Lan, John T. S. Irvine & Shanwen Tao (2013) Synthesis of ammonia directly from air and
water at ambient temperature and pressure. Scientific Reports 3, Article number: 1145 doi:
10.1038/srep01145
Original paper at http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130129/srep01145/full/srep01145.html
 
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