Research Projects

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most industrial synthesized inorganic chemicals, which has widespread applications such as fertilizer, hydrogen carrier, and internal combustion (IC) engine carbon-free fuel. In 2021, 235 million tons of ammonia were synthesized worldwide, out of this only 0.01% alone was synthesized through the green route. The Haber-Bosch (HB) process is the popular mature method to synthesize ammonia from pure hydrogen and nitrogen at high pressure (150 - 210 bar) and high temperature (500 - 620 °C) in the presence of a precious metal-based catalyst. Carbon dioxide emission per kilogram of ammonia synthesis by HB is 2.16 kg. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) assisted direct synthesis of ammonia from water and nitrogen takes place at ambient pressure and low temperature (below 60 °C). The basic principle behind the NTP-assisted ammonia synthesis process is plasma and water interface reaction dissociates water into reactive elements, later it will recombine with activated nitrogen atoms. This proposal emphases on the cost-efficient commercial-scale 1 kg/h green ammonia synthesis NTP-assisted reactor. The electric power required for the green ammonia synthesis is 10 kW which is obtained from multiple 335 W polycrystalline solar photovoltaic panels. The energy required for 1 kg ammonia production through the NTP-assisted green synthesis process is 10 kWh and for the HB process through the steam methane reforming route is about 7.78 – 9.06 kWh while the electrolysis route needs 9 - 11 kWh. Energy requirements in NTP-assisted green ammonia synthesis can be further reduced to 6 kWh by improving the ionization and dissociation of reactants (Nitrogen and water) with novel activation steps such as ultraviolet (UV) rays penetration and a non-noble metal catalyst. This project will advance the synthesis technology and tailor it to green ammonia production, by developing novel steps for production efficiency improvement and developing a suitable reactor with higher energy efficiency.

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