Non-thermal plasma-assisted ammonia production: A review

Zhang, Jun; Li, Xiaotian; Zheng, Jili; Du, Miao; Wu, Xuehong; Song, Jun; Cheng, Chuanxiao; Li, Tao; Yang, Wei

doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117482

Cited by 36 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 172 publications

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“…The recent ammonia production cost analyses by Wang et al [374] and Rouwenhorst et al [40,149] indicate that low outlet NH 3 , the recycling cost constitutes more than that of the ammonia synthesis cost for a distributed production platform. Therefore, several techniques have been adopted to enhance ammonia output concentration [3,39,40,148,149,375,376]. Evidently, (see for example Table 15), this level of conversion (0.2%) used in the model is too low.…”

Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen, Ammonia and Symbiotic/Smart Fertilizer Production Using Renewable Feedstock and CO2 Utilization through Catalytic Processes and Nonthermal Plasma with Novel Catalysts and In Situ Reactive Separation: A Roadmap for Sustainable and Innovation-Based Technology

Akay

2023

Catalysts

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This multi-disciplinary paper aims to provide a roadmap for the development of an integrated, process-intensified technology for the production of H2, NH3 and NH3-based symbiotic/smart fertilizers (referred to as target products) from renewable feedstock with CO2 sequestration and utilization while addressing environmental issues relating to the emerging Food, Energy and Water shortages as a result of global warming. The paper also discloses several novel processes, reactors and catalysts. In addition to the process intensification character of the processes used and reactors designed in this study, they also deliver novel or superior products so as to lower both capital and processing costs. The critical elements of the proposed technology in the sustainable production of the target products are examined under three-sections: (1) Materials: They include natural or synthetic porous water absorbents for NH3 sequestration and symbiotic and smart fertilizers (S-fertilizers), synthesis of plasma interactive supported catalysts including supported piezoelectric catalysts, supported high-entropy catalysts, plasma generating-chemical looping and natural catalysts and catalysts based on quantum effects in plasma. Their performance in NH3 synthesis and CO2 conversion to CO as well as the direct conversion of syngas to NH3 and NH3—fertilizers are evaluated, and their mechanisms investigated. The plasma-generating chemical-looping catalysts (Catalysts, 2020, 10, 152; and 2016, 6, 80) were further modified to obtain a highly active piezoelectric catalyst with high levels of chemical and morphological heterogeneity. In particular, the mechanism of structure formation in the catalysts BaTi1−rMrO3−x−y{#}xNz and M3O4−x−y{#}xNz/Si = X was studied. Here, z = 2y/3, {#} represents an oxygen vacancy and M is a transition metal catalyst. (2) Intensified processes: They include, multi-oxidant (air, oxygen, CO2 and water) fueled catalytic biomass/waste gasification for the generation of hydrogen-enriched syngas (H2, CO, CO2, CH4, N2); plasma enhanced syngas cleaning with ca. 99% tar removal; direct syngas-to-NH3 based fertilizer conversion using catalytic plasma with CO2 sequestration and microwave energized packed bed flow reactors with in situ reactive separation; CO2 conversion to CO with BaTiO3−x{#}x or biochar to achieve in situ O2 sequestration leading to higher CO2 conversion, biochar upgrading for agricultural applications; NH3 sequestration with CO2 and urea synthesis. (3) Reactors: Several patented process-intensified novel reactors were described and utilized. They are all based on the Multi-Reaction Zone Reactor (M-RZR) concept and include, a multi-oxidant gasifier, syngas cleaning reactor, NH3 and fertilizer production reactors with in situ NH3 sequestration with mineral acids or CO2. The approach adopted for the design of the critical reactors is to use the critical materials (including natural catalysts and soil additives) in order to enhance intensified H2 and NH3 production. Ultimately, they become an essential part of the S-fertilizer system, providing efficient fertilizer use and enhanced crop yield, especially under water and nutrient stress. These critical processes and reactors are based on a process intensification philosophy where critical materials are utilized in the acceleration of the reactions including NH3 production and carbon dioxide reduction. When compared with the current NH3 production technology (Haber–Bosch process), the proposed technology achieves higher ammonia conversion at much lower temperatures and atmospheric pressure while eliminating the costly NH3 separation process through in situ reactive separation, which results in the production of S-fertilizers or H2 or urea precursor (ammonium carbamate). As such, the cost of NH3-based S-fertilizers can become competitive with small-scale distributed production platforms compared with the Haber–Bosch fertilizers.

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Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen, Ammonia and Symbiotic/Smart Fertilizer Production Using Renewable Feedstock and CO2 Utilization through Catalytic Processes and Nonthermal Plasma with Novel Catalysts and In Situ Reactive Separation: A Roadmap for Sustainable and Innovation-Based Technology

Akay

2023

Catalysts

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“…1 Currently, the predominant method for industrial ammonia synthesis relies on the traditional Haber−Bosch catalytic method, which necessitates high temperature and pressure to convert N 2 into NH 3 . 2,3 As a result of the extreme conditions, this process consumes over 1% of the global total energy each year and emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases, thereby exacerbating concerns regarding energy consumption and environmental concerns. 4,5 Consequently, there is an urgent necessity to develop methods that can utilize N 2 for the production of NH 3 under mild conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ammonia (NH 3 ) is a crucial feedstock for agricultural fertilizer production and the chemical industry . Currently, the predominant method for industrial ammonia synthesis relies on the traditional Haber–Bosch catalytic method, which necessitates high temperature and pressure to convert N 2 into NH 3 . , As a result of the extreme conditions, this process consumes over 1% of the global total energy each year and emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases, thereby exacerbating concerns regarding energy consumption and environmental concerns. , Consequently, there is an urgent necessity to develop methods that can utilize N 2 for the production of NH 3 under mild conditions. The photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (PNRR) employs solar energy, a clean and renewable source of energy, as the driving force to achieve the generation of NH 3 from N 2 under ambient conditions. − However, the nitrogen molecule utilized in ammonia synthesis exhibits significant chemical inertness, with a dissociation energy of up to 941 kJ·mol –1 for the NN bond, thus presenting a challenge for the synthesis of ammonia .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Photocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction via Bismuth Nanoparticle-Decorating ZnCdS Solid Solution

Meng,

Chen,

et al. 2024

Inorg. Chem.

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The construction of photocatalysts with a surface plasmon resonance effect (SPR) has been demonstrated as a highly effective strategy for enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. In this paper, we synthesized a catalyst with bismuth metal loaded on ZnCdS nanospheres for an efficient photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (PNRR). The SPR effect induced by Bi nanoparticles under light excitation significantly promoted the ammonia production efficiency of the photocatalyst. Under air ambient conditions with lactic acid as the sacrificial agent, the photocatalytic NH 4 + yield of 3% Bi@ZnCdS was 58.93 μmol•g −1 • h −1 , which exhibited an approximately 7.7 times that of the pure phase ZnCdS. The experimental characterization results demonstrate that the incorporation of metallic bismuth enhances the light absorption capacity of the catalyst and improves the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. Theoretical calculations proved that Bi NPs provide more photogenerated electrons to convert N 2 to NH 3 for solid-solution ZnCdS. This work presents a novel concept for the development of advanced plasma nanomaterials to enhance the photocatalytic nitrogen fixation reaction.

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“…However, due to the strict reaction conditions, such as high temperatures (400–650 °C) and high pressure (5–20 MPa) catalysts, its energy consumption has reached 1–2% of global energy consumption and with a large amounts of CO 2 . 8,10 How to synthesize NH 3 using abundant N 2 while avoiding harsh reaction conditions and reducing the energy dissipation during NH 3 production is an urgent technical problem to be solved. 11 N 2 + 3H 2 ⇄ 2NH 3 Δ H = −46.27 kJ mol −1 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategies for avoiding the scaling relationship in ammonia synthesis with non-thermal plasma methods – the “shift” or “break” approach

Zhang,

Li,

Zuo

et al. 2024

Green Chem.

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Non-thermal plasma-assisted ammonia production: A review

Cited by 36 publications

References 172 publications

Hydrogen, Ammonia and Symbiotic/Smart Fertilizer Production Using Renewable Feedstock and CO2 Utilization through Catalytic Processes and Nonthermal Plasma with Novel Catalysts and In Situ Reactive Separation: A Roadmap for Sustainable and Innovation-Based Technology

Hydrogen, Ammonia and Symbiotic/Smart Fertilizer Production Using Renewable Feedstock and CO2 Utilization through Catalytic Processes and Nonthermal Plasma with Novel Catalysts and In Situ Reactive Separation: A Roadmap for Sustainable and Innovation-Based Technology

Enhanced Photocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction via Bismuth Nanoparticle-Decorating ZnCdS Solid Solution

Strategies for avoiding the scaling relationship in ammonia synthesis with non-thermal plasma methods – the “shift” or “break” approach

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