University of Sydney researchers have harnessed human-made lightning to develop a more efficient method of generating ammonia - one of the world's most important chemicals. Ammonia is also the main ingredient of fertilizers that account for almost half of all global food production.
The team have successfully developed a more straightforward method to produce ammonia (NH3) in gas form. Previous efforts by other laboratories produced ammonia in a solution (ammonium, NH4+), which requires more energy and processes to transform it into the final gas product.
The current method to generate ammonia, the Haber-Bosch process, comes at great climate cost, leaving a huge carbon footprint. It also needs to happen on a large scale and close to sources of cheap natural gas to make it cost-effective.
Naturally occurring ammonia (mostly in the form of bird droppings), was once so high in demand it fueled wars.
The invention of the Haber-Bosch process in the 19th century made human-made ammonia possible and revolutionized modern agriculture and industry. Currently 90 percent of global ammonia production relies on the Haber-Bosch process.
"Industry's appetite for ammonia is only growing. For the past decade, the global scientific community, including our lab, wants to uncover a more sustainable way to produce ammonia that doesn't rely on fossil fuels.
"In this research we've successfully developed a method that allows air to be converted to ammonia in its gaseous form using electricity. A huge step towards our goals."
The research was published in AngewandteChemie International edition.
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