Sustainable ammonia synthesis from nitrogen wet with sea water by single-step plasma catalysis

Nguyen, Hoang M.; Gorky, Fnu; Guthrie, Shelby; Carreon, Maria L.

doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2023.114141

Sustainable ammonia synthesis from nitrogen wet with sea water by single-step plasma catalysis

Journal Article · Wed Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Catalysis Today

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2023.114141· OSTI ID:2422218

Nguyen, Hoang M. ^[1]; Gorky, Fnu ^[2]; Guthrie, Shelby ^[2]; Carreon, Maria L. ^[2]

Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States); OSTI
Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)

Ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions employing intermittent distributed green sources of energy and feedstocks is globally sought to replace the centralized Haber-Bosch (H-B) process operating at high temperature and pressure. We report herein for the first time an effective and sustainable ammonia synthesis pathway from N₂ wet with seawater vapor over spherical SiO₂ and M/SiO₂ (M: Ag, Cu, and Co) catalysts driven by non-thermal plasma (NTP). Experimental results indicate that the presence of a catalyst is required for ammonia production from seawater vapor and N₂. The Co/SiO₂ catalyst delivered the highest ammonia synthesis rate (r_NH₃) of 3.7 mmol g_cat^-1 h^-1 and energy yield of 3.2 g_NH₃∙kW^-1∙h^-1 at a relatively low input power of 2 W. The extraction of H atoms from H₂O molecules plays an important role in the ammonia synthesis from seawater vapor. Finally, this work unfolds a novel platform for the subsequent optimization of sustainable ammonia production from endless resources such as seawater and N₂ through catalytic non-thermal plasma potentially powered by renewable sources.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0023261

OSTI ID:: 2422218

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1969758

Journal Information:: Catalysis Today, Journal Name: Catalysis Today Vol. 418; ISSN 0920-5861

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Ammonia
Non-thermal plasma
Plasma catalyst
Seawater vapor
Silica catalyst
Sustainable ammonia synthesis

Sustainable ammonia synthesis from nitrogen wet with sea water by single-step plasma catalysis

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