As shown in the diagram above, nitrogen is fed to one side of cell and water to the other side. Hydrogen atoms are stripped off the water molecules in the form of positively charged protons (shown as H+ in the diagram), which are then transported across the cell.
On the other side of the cell they are combined with Nitrogen atoms to form ammonia (NH3).
The reaction is not spontaneous and must be driven by a source of energy. In our system that energy is expected to be provided by renewable electricity. In those circumstances, there are no CO2 emissions associated with the production of ammonia, which can therefore be termed “Green Ammonia”. We extract this Green Ammonia from the cell, which can be stored as a liquid under moderate pressures for use in a range of applications.
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"In our study, we have found that a phosphonium salt can be used as a 'proton shuttle' to resolve this limitation," Dr. Suryanto said.
"In 2019, the total global production of ammonia reached 150 million metric tons per year, making it the second-most produced chemical commodity in the world. With increasing global population, the demand for ammonia will reach 350 million metric tons per year by 2050. Additional growth in the demand for ammonia is expected because of the growing interest in its use as an energy carrier or fuel.
"The Haber-Bosch process currently used to produce ammonia is extremely carbon intensive. Moreover, it also requires high temperatures and pressures and can only be feasibly achieved in large reactors in large industrial plants.
"Our study has allowed us to produce ammonia at room temperature at high, practical rates and efficiency."
Professor MacFarlane, an internationally renowned chemist, believes the use of carbon-neutral production technologies could also see ammonia used as a fuel and replace fossil fuels by 2050.
