Search

Photosynthesis inspires net-zero ammonia research

We are an online community created around a smart and easy to access information hub which is focused on providing proven global and local insights about sustainability

26 Aug, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

Scientists from UNSW Sydney have come up with a novel way to sustainably produce ammonia, inspired by the natural process of photosynthesis. Their research has been published in the Journal of Energy and Environmental Science.

Ammonia is a gas that is essential for producing the fertilisers that support global agriculture and food production. However, traditional methods of making ammonia create significant greenhouse gas emissions, since fossil fuels are required for the hydrogen production and energy that power the process.

“Traditional ammonia production requires high temperatures — around 400–500°C — and high pressure, historically necessitating the use of fossil fuels,” said UNSW Scientia Professor Rose Amal, from the School of Chemical Engineering.

To address this problem, teams led by Amal and Professor Xiaojing Hao, from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, developed a way to generate ammonium ions from nitrate-containing wastewater using only a specially designed solar panel that works like an artificial leaf. Using a process known as photoelectrocatalytics (PEC), the researchers placed on the panel a nanostructured thin layer of copper and cobalt hydroxide that acted as a catalyst for the chemical reaction needed to produce ammonium nitrate from the wastewater.

In a real leaf, photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar. This new photoelectrocatalytic process mimics photosynthesis, with the solar panel acting like an artificial leaf, using sunlight and nitrate-containing wastewater to create ammonium nitrate.

Artificial leaf system developed at UNSW to create ammonia from wastewater using only the sun. Image credit: Chen Han/UNSW.

The research team, which includes lead author Chen Han and Dr Jian Pan (a DECRA fellow), built a 40 cm2 artificial leaf system on the roof of Tyree Energy Technologies building at UNSW that has been able to produce ammonium ions that can satisfy 1.49 m2 of cropland.

“We think this new technology could be implemented on a relatively small scale in agricultural locations to produce ammonium onsite, which would decentralise the production process and further reduce CO2 emissions that are associated with the transportation process,” Amal said.

“Our findings provide a clean, efficient and cost-effective solution for utilising solar energy and chemical wastes to produce ammonia and other value-added products,” Han added.

“You do not need a high concentration of ammonia in fertiliser, so we believe the amounts of ammonia we are producing using our system make it a viable application in the real world, although we definitely still have some ways to further improve it.”

The researchers hope that the generation of the ammonium from the wastewater will allow the processed water to be used to irrigate crops and further help them to grow.

“It’s important to acknowledge that the wastewater we convert isn’t coming directly from municipal waste or runoff — it still needs to be processed first to filter out the organic matters and particulates,” Amal said.

“But we are hopeful that once we have generated ammonium from the nitrate wastewater, the treated water can then be put into irrigation.”

Amal is keen for further collaboration and involvement with potential industry partners to develop the process into a fully viable commercial system.

“Industry partners would help us scale up this device, and we definitely would like to utilise a full-scale, traditionally sized solar panel for our application,” she said.

“This is important for helping us reach our emissions targets of 2030 and 2040, and ultimately achieving net zero by 2050. We want to produce ammonia in a cleaner and greener way that minimises CO2 emissions.”

Top image caption: The photoelectrode utilising nanostructured thin layer of copper and cobalt hydroxide helps to create ammonia from wastewater using only the sun. Image credit: Chen Han/UNSW.

Pass over the stars to rate this post. Your opinion is always welcome.
[Total: 0 Average: 0]

You may also like…

How Can We Tackle the Food and Climate Crises Together? Food Systems Transformation for a Sustainable Future

How Can We Tackle the Food and Climate Crises Together? Food Systems Transformation for a Sustainable Future

How Can We Tackle the Food and Climate Crises Together? Food Systems Transformation for a Sustainable Future
jschoshinski
Mon, 11/11/2024 – 20:53

This session will explore how transforming food systems can address the dual crises of climate change and food insecurity. Panelists will highlight innovative strategies, including nature-based solutions and climate-smart agriculture, as well as finance mechanisms that promote emissions reduction while maintaining sufficient and nutritious food production. We will provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to advance sustainable development goals while addressing climate and food crises.

Teaser Text
This session will explore how transforming food systems can address the dual crises of climate change and food insecurity.

Event Date
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 11:00 am
– 12:00 pm +04
(7:00 – 8:00 am UTC)

Event Location
Pavilion F9, Baku Olympic Stadium

Sponsored by
CGIAR

Advanced registration required
Off

External Link
Learn More and Watch Livestream

Event Format

Virtual
In-Person

Event Type
Conference

Topic

Agriculture
Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Climate Finance
Food Security
Nature-based Solutions

Strategic Objective

Adaptation
Mitigation

Sectors

Agriculture and Food Systems

Region

Global

Add to calendar
Add to Calendar
2024-11-19 07:00:00
2024-11-19 08:00:00
How Can We Tackle the Food and Climate Crises Together? Food Systems Transformation for a Sustainable Future

This session will explore how transforming food systems can address the dual crises of climate change and food insecurity. Panelists will highlight innovative strategies, including nature-based solutions and climate-smart agriculture, as well as finance mechanisms that promote emissions reduction while maintaining sufficient and nutritious food production. We will provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to advance sustainable development goals while addressing climate and food crises.

Pavilion F9, Baku Olympic Stadium

Global Climate Change
team@climatelinks.org
UTC
public

UK Shows Plans for Low-Carbon Heat Network in London

UK Shows Plans for Low-Carbon Heat Network in London

The UK government set out plans this week for one the country’s largest heat networks, which is slated to provide low-carbon heat to about 1,000 buildings in central London.  The network is part of a £1 billion ($1.29 billion) initiative to provide low-carbon heating throughout Westminster, a city and governmental hub within Greater London. The […]
The post UK Shows Plans for Low-Carbon Heat Network in London appeared first on EcoWatch.

18 Must-Read Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Books

18 Must-Read Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Books

To all the sustainability-conscious bookworms out there, this one’s for you. Learning about sustainable fashion and the ecological revolutions of the industry is more accessible than ever. It’s easy to keep yourself up-to-date on everything that is going on in the movement, be it on the go throughout the week on your e-reader or on […]
The post 18 Must-Read Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Books appeared first on Good On You.

0 Comments