A research team at the University at Buffalo, led by Chris Li, has developed a plasma-electrochemical reactor that transforms nitrogen from the air into ammonia without producing carbon emissions. This innovation addresses the environmental impact of traditional ammonia production processes, particularly the Haber-Bosch method, which contributes to 2% of global energy consumption and relies heavily on fossil fuels. The new reactor operates at room temperature and can sustain an ammonia production rate of approximately 1 gram per day for over 1,000 hours.
The method mimics nature’s nitrogen fixation process by using plasma to create nitrogen oxide intermediates, which are then converted into ammonia through an electrochemical process using a copper-palladium catalyst. This design allows for the efficient stabilization and conversion of various nitrogen oxide compounds into ammonia.
The team is working on scaling the technology for commercial use, envisioning smaller units capable of being powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels. Such a decentralized approach could facilitate ammonia production in regions lacking traditional facilities. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
