Electric Bacteria Air to Ammonia Project at IIT Madras

Electric Bacteria for Air to Ammonia Conversion

Objective

• Synthesis of ammonia at industry-relevant production rate by the plasma-electrochemical process.

Description

• Non-thermal plasma (NTP) will be combined with electrocatalysis to reach the output levels of the HB process. The enhancement in the reaction performance comes from the synergy evolved by the interaction between the plasma and the catalyst. Altering the physical properties of the catalyst such as dielectric constant, particle size and void fraction, etc. could change the density and mode of the plasma discharge. Besides, plasma could manipulate the electronic properties of the catalyst which will eventually lead to happening of the thermodynamically uphill process that is N?N triple bond activation.

Impact

• If ammonia producing industry is converted into a green industry, nearly 3% of total CO2 emissions can be contained. Besides, the ammonia produced can be used in the agriculture and fine chemical industries. Ammonia is also a hydrogen carrier, hence this proposal can also be considered to illustrate hydrogen storage. Production of hydrogen cracking ammonia would lead to green transportation, such as fuel cell-based.