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Liquid metal could be key to greener ammonia

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29 Sep, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

An RMIT-led study relying on liquid metal catalysts has demonstrated a low-energy approach for producing ammonia that is as effective as the current gold standard, which relies on the force of pressure. This new process could lead to significant cuts in carbon emissions caused by production of the widely used chemical.

Ammonia is used in fertiliser to grow much of the world’s food; it also plays a role in clean energy as a carrier to safely transport hydrogen. However, the global production of ammonia presents a huge environmental problem, with the gas consuming over 2% of global energy and producing up to 2% of global carbon emissions.

Dr Karma Zuraiqi, RMIT Research Fellow and lead author of the study, said the team’s greener alternative used 20% less heat and 98% less pressure than the century-old Haber-Bosch process used today for splitting nitrogen and hydrogen into ammonia.

Dr Karma Zuraiqi holds a vial of copper, a key component of the team’s new catalyst. Image credit: Michael Quin, RMIT.

“Ammonia production worldwide is currently responsible for twice the emissions of Australia. If we can improve this process and make it less energy-intensive, we can make a large dent in carbon emissions,” said Zuraiqi, from RMIT’s School of Engineering.

“The copper and gallium we use is also much cheaper and more abundant than the precious metal ruthenium used as a catalyst in current approaches,” Zuraiqi added.

“These advantages all make it an exciting new development that we’re keen to take further and test outside the lab.”

Liquid metal as a catalyst

The team is at the forefront of harnessing the special properties of liquid metal catalysts for ammonia production, carbon capture and energy production.

A catalyst is a substance that makes chemical reactions occur faster and more easily without itself being consumed.

This latest study showcased the RMIT-proprietary technique by creating tiny liquid metal droplets containing copper and gallium — named ‘nano planets’ for their hard crust, liquid outer core and solid inner core structure — as the catalyst to break apart the raw ingredients of nitrogen and hydrogen.

A new way of making ammonia by harnessing the power of liquid metal could lead to significant cuts in carbon emissions caused by production of the widely used chemical. Image credit: Michael Quin, RMIT.

“Liquid metals allow us to move the chemical elements around in a more dynamic way that gets everything to the interface and enables more efficient reactions, ideal for catalysis,” said RMIT’s Professor Torben Daeneke.

“Copper and gallium separately had both been discounted as famously bad catalysts for ammonia production, yet together they do the job extremely well.”

Tests revealed gallium broke apart the nitrogen, while the presence of copper helped the splitting of hydrogen, combining to work as effectively as current approaches at a fraction of the cost, according to the scientists.

“We essentially found a way to take advantage of the synergy between the two metals, lifting their individual activity,” Daeneke said.

RMIT is now leading commercialisation of the technology, which is co-owned by RMIT and Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

The next challenge: upscaling for industry

While ammonia produced via the traditional Haber-Bosch process is only viable at huge facilities, the team’s alternative approach could suit both large-scale and smaller, decentralised production, where small amounts are made cheaply at solar farms. This in turn would slash transport costs and emissions.

Currently, the technology is yet to be proven beyond lab conditions, but the team plans to upscale their system and design it to operate at even lower pressures, making it more practical as a decentralised tool for a broader range of industries.

As well as producing ammonia for fertiliser, the technology could be a key enabler for the hydrogen industry, supporting the move away from fossil fuels.

“One good way to make hydrogen safer and easier to transport is to turn it into ammonia,” Daeneke explained.

“But if we use ammonia produced through current techniques as a hydrogen carrier, then emissions from the hydrogen industry could significantly increase global emissions.

“Our vision is to combine our green ammonia production technology with hydrogen technologies, allowing green energy to be shipped safely around the world without huge losses on the way,” he said.

“At this stage, we are really excited by the results and are keen to speak with potential partners interested in scaling this up for their industry.”

The research was supported by the Australian Research Council and the Australian Synchrotron (ANSTO). Analysis of molecular interactions was carried out at RMIT’s Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility, as well as QUT’s Central Analytical Research Facility, the Australian Synchrotron and via the NCI Australia supercomputing facility.

‘Unveiling metal mobility in liquid metal catalysts for ammonia synthesis’ has been published in Nature Catalysis.

Top image caption: Dr Ken Chiang, Dr Karma Zuraiqi and Professor Torben Daeneke. Image credit: Michael Quin, RMIT.

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Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched the Asia Pacific Regional Network (APN) Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework, presented at the WorldGBC hosted accelerator session, ‘Retrofitting buildings: Lessons from a global network’, as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (WCEF2025), a global event dedicated to the circular economy.

Developed by WorldGBC’s APN of 17 Green Building Councils (GBCs) as well as knowledge partners, the framework is a practical roadmap aimed at policymakers and businesses across the region to assess their circularity readiness and identify strategic priorities for action to decarbonise their building stock on both a national and regional scale.

The framework can be used as a tool to quantify the business case for circular, sustainable principles in the built environment, and support businesses and governments to reduce waste, conserve resources and lower carbon emissions. It shows the industry the practical steps it can take now towards circularity, based on its current capabilities. It sets out clear assessment criteria, specific readiness indicators and actionable guidance based on five interconnected elements:

Government leadership: Policies and regulations driving circularity at all levels.
Technical solutions: Innovative approaches enabling resource efficiency and circular material flows.
Data: Measurement systems tracking resource use and circularity progress.
Finance: Funding mechanisms supporting circular business models and infrastructure.
Mindset: Cultural shifts prioritising resource conservation and sustainable consumption.
 

The Framework further supports WorldGBC’s 2025–2027 strategic plan, which outlines the vision for a sustainable built environment, guided by global 2030 decarbonisation goals.

Joy Gai, Head of Asia Pacific Network, WorldGBC said, “The framework has been developed by sustainability experts from the Asia–Pacific, one of the most diverse regions in the world, which is defined by remarkable complexities of culture, building stocks and environmental conditions. Our network recognises that harnessing diversity is fundamental to shaping a more resilient, resource-efficient future — but we need a guide to show us how to put our ambition into action. That is why we developed the APN Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework.

“WorldGBC is proud to join our Green Building Councils and partners in launching this timely resource. It creates a common language to guide businesses through collaboration, identifying their needs and applying circular methods which support our shared vision for a sustainable and regenerative future for Asia–Pacific and beyond.”

Jeff Oatman, chair of the Asia Pacific Regional network, Head of Collaboration and membership at Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), added, “The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework is a timely and much-needed initiative to accelerate the transition to a more regenerative and resource-efficient built environment across our region. By offering a clear pathway for assessing readiness and driving action, it empowers governments, industry and communities to make smarter, more sustainable decisions around circularity. I’m proud to be part of this collaboration and to contribute to a tool that not only fosters innovation but also supports practical outcomes that matter for people and the planet.”

Takuji Kohama, Chief Representative, AGC Group for Asia Pacific, also commented, “A resilient built environment relies on understanding ecological interconnections and making a conscious shift from linear consumption to cyclical resource stewardship. Designing buildings and infrastructures with their lifecycle in mind maximises material efficiency and minimises waste through a holistic approach from resource sourcing to end-of-life. Prioritising design for disassembly, material recovery, reuse and repurpose transforms buildings into dynamic material banks, significantly reducing construction’s environmental impact and fostering economic and environmental sustainability.

“Participating in the formulation of Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework offers a practical path to sustainable growth in our resource-constrained and climate-challenged region. This framework empowers built environment stakeholders to adopt a regenerative, resilient mindset focused on long-term value creation, redefining design, construction and living beyond waste minimisation. We aim to catalyse greater collaboration, innovation and systemic change, positioning AGC as a regional leader in circular economy practices and a model for urban sustainability.”

GBCs will use the framework to assess their own readiness to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the built environment, as well as supporting the Asia–Pacific market. To find out more, head to the Green Building Council of Australia website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Benjamas Deekam

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