Site items in: Electrochemical Ammonia

Presentation

Electrochemical Promotion of Ammonia Synthesis with Proton-Conducting Ceramic Fuel Cells -Function of Electrode Interface for Ammonia Formation Reaction-

Junichiro OtomoChien-I LiKazunori YamamotoHiroki Matsuo

The advance of efficient and economical energy carrier technology is an important challenge in terms of storage and transport of hydrogen fuels produced from renewable energy. Ammonia is a promising candidate of energy carrier because of high energy density and easy liquefaction as well as a carbon-free fuel.1 Electrochemical synthesis has a potential for an efficient ammonia production in comparison with the industrial Haber–Bosch process. In our previous study, we observed the improvement of electrochemical synthesis of ammonia using iron-based electrode catalyst such as K-Al-Fe-BaCe0.9Y0.1O3 (BCY).2 In the study, basically, H2 decomposition occurs to form protons in the anode side,…

Energy Storage through Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis Using Proton-Conducting Ceramics
Presentation

Energy Storage through Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis Using Proton-Conducting Ceramics

Neal P. SullivanLiangzhu ZhuChuancheng DuanRyan O'HayreMax PisciottaLong LeCarolina Herradon HernandezMichelle ButlerCanan KarakayaRobert J. KeeFred JahnkeHossein Ghezel-Ayagh

In this presentation, we provide an overview of an ambitious project to store renewable energy through electrochemical synthesis of ammonia. The joint project between the Colorado School of Mines (Golden, CO) and FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Danbury, CT) is supported through the U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E ‘REFUEL’ program. The research and development team seeks to harness the unique properties of proton-conducting ceramics to activate chemical and electrochemical reactions for efficient and cost-effective synthesis of ammonia. The system concept is shown in Figure 1; renewable electricity is used to drive electrolysis of the H2O feedstock to form hydrogen. This electrochemically produced…

Technoeconomic Requirements for Sustainable Ammonia Production
Presentation

Technoeconomic Requirements for Sustainable Ammonia Production

Joshua M. McEnaneyNico PinkowskiBrian A. RohrJay SchwalbeMichael Statt

Ammonia, the feedstock for all nitrogen fertilizers, is produced via the Haber-Bosch process, which is responsible for 1-2% of global carbon dioxide emissions each year. An attractive solution to this problem is to create an electrochemical ammonia synthesis process that can produce ammonia using only air, water, and renewable electricity. Researchers across the world have been working toward such a solution for the last several decades, but so far, no economically viable alternative has been created. The Haber-Bosch process is one of the largest-scale, most highly optimized chemical processes in the world; it is very difficult to find a cheaper…

Presentation

A Techno-Economic Model for Renewable Ammonia By Electrochemical Synthesis with Proton Conductive Membrane

Jamie GomezJohn BacaFernando Garzon

Ammonia as a renewable liquid fuel has increased global interest for long term energy storage and as a principal chemical candidate in overcoming the challenging practical issues such as storage and transport associated with hydrogen. It is known the Haber-Bosch method of producing ammonia is based on fossil fuels and has a high energy consumption as a result of operating temperatures and pressures of special concern. A techno-economic study is presented for the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia with proton conducting membrane at near ambient pressure. Different coupling pathways were investigated for production of hydrogen and generation of nitrogen to assess…

Presentation

Synthesis of Ammonia By RF Non-Thermal Plasma over Ni-MOF-74

Maria Carreon

Herein, we demonstrate a synergistic approach consisting on radiofrequency plasma to synthesize ammonia in the presence of Ni-MOF-74 as catalyst. The Ni-MOF displayed higher ammonia yields as com-pared to the pure Ni metal. Specifically, ammonia yields as high as 0.23 g-NH3 (kWh-g-catalyst)-1 and energy cost of 265 MJ mol-1 over Ni-MOF were observed. The enhanced catalytic activity of the Ni-MOF in the presence of plasma was attributed to the presence of pores that improved mass transfer of guest and product molecules during reaction, the presence of open Ni metal sites, and lower surface hydrogen re-combination. Furthermore, the ammonia energy yield…

The global quest to decarbonize ammonia production
Article

The global quest to decarbonize ammonia production

Trevor Brown June 20, 2019

NEWS BRIEF: The industrial process for ammonia production is increasingly being recognized as a target for decarbonization - by researchers, investors, regulators, and the producers themselves. Demonstrating this shift in awareness, Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN), one of the flagship publications of the American Chemical Society (ACS), this week published an in-depth review of global research and development efforts and demonstration plants for sustainable ammonia synthesis. Its review is all-encompassing, from near-term feasible renewable Haber-Bosch plants, to long-term research areas of electrochemistry, photocatalysis, and bioengineering.

A rigorous protocol for measuring electrochemical ammonia synthesis rates
Article

A rigorous protocol for measuring electrochemical ammonia synthesis rates

Trevor Brown May 26, 2019

NEWS BRIEF: A paper published this week in Nature addresses the challenge of accurately reporting synthesis rates for electrochemical ammonia production technologies. According to the authors, from Stanford University, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and Imperial College London, it is not always clear if new technologies really synthesize ammonia, or if the researchers simply measured contaminants. This is because, at experimental scale, materially significant amounts of ammonia (or other nitrogen-containing molecules) could be present in the air, membranes, catalysts, or simply the researchers' breath. To support the development of viable electrochemical ammonia synthesis technologies, the authors propose "benchmarking protocols," and "a standardized set of control experiments."

Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia Using Nitrogen and Water in Alkaline Electrolytes Under Ambient Conditions
Presentation

Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia Using Nitrogen and Water in Alkaline Electrolytes Under Ambient Conditions

Shreya MukherjeeGang Wu

Sustainable synthesis of Ammonia (NH3) is gaining great attention not only for its use as an alternative renewable energy fuel but also to substitute production of distributed fertilizers through the conventional Haber Bosch process. The conventional Haber-Bosch process to produce NH3 uses fossil fuels in deriving hydrogen from steam reforming of natural gas, is energy intensive and also leads to significant CO2 emission. Alternatively, electrochemical synthesis of ammonia (ESA) through the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) in alkaline medium saves the use of hydrogen as a reactant as the aqueous electrolyte forms the source of proton. However, the standard reduction potential…

Atmonia: Sustainable Ammonia Production Using Electrocatalysis at Ambient Temperature and Pressure
Presentation

Atmonia: Sustainable Ammonia Production Using Electrocatalysis at Ambient Temperature and Pressure

Helga Dogg FlosadottirArnar SveinbjörnssonEgill SkúlasonFatemeh HanifpourFriðrik MagnusYounes AbghouiJian Yang

Density functional theory simulations have shed light on reaction mechanisms, rate limiting steps and minimum energy paths for reactions to occur, in vacuum as well as in various media. Using that, we have selected certain criteria and revealed a few metal nitride surfaces that should be efficient and selective catalysts for nitrogen reduction in water. Recently, experimental confirmation was acquired for one of the surfaces. A novel methodology was developed where electrochemical catalysis chamber was directly connected in-line with a flow injection analysis method, providing direct detection of reaction rate and catalyst current efficiency, which is then further confirmed with…