Abstract
AbstractThe synthesis of ammonia through the Haber‐Bosch process has been at the foundation of the chemical industry for over 100 years, but when the energy and feedstock sources switch from fossil fuels to renewable electricity, the process needs to be reimagined. Herein, the successful integration of ammonia synthesis and separation is demonstrated in a recycle‐less process setting the foundations of green ammonia technology. The ruthenium‐based catalyst uses a nanostructured CeO2 support and Cs electronic promotion to remove hydrogen and ammonia inhibition, respectively, creating a catalyst with low‐temperature (<300 °C) activity that quickly approaches equilibrium. The absorbent uses MnCl2 to avoid the acid releasing decomposition of conventional absorbents like MgCl2, and a support of SiO2 to simultaneously enhance MnCl2 dispersion and improve stabilization. This integrated catalyst‐absorbent system reproducibly exceeds single‐pass ammonia synthesis equilibrium. Kinetic models of the catalyst and absorbent successfully predict the experimental long‐term behavior and facilitate the design of an integrated system. These results present a framework for aligning intermittent and isolated renewable energy with ammonia synthesis by decreasing capital complexity and increasing process agility—adapting to a shifting energy landscape to continue providing fertilizers with minimum CO2 penalty and pioneer energy storage.
Highlights
The synthesis of ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process has been at to the thermodynamic limitations
Kinetic models of the catalyst and absorbent successfully predict the experimental long-term behavior and facilitate the design of an integrated system. These results present a framework for aligning intermittent and isolated renewable energy with ammonia synthesis by decreasing capital complexity and able electricity and the desire for a general electrification of the chemical industry has revealed that industrial ammonia synthesis is operating at a false optimization when only fossil fuels are considered as an energy source
The vision of an integrated ammonia synthesis and separation process requires the design of a catalyst active at low temperature and pressures while presenting a high rate of reaction
Summary
The synthesis of ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process has been at to the thermodynamic limitations. The the foundation of the chemical industry for over 100 years, but when the energy and feedstock sources switch from fossil fuels to renewable electricity, the process needs to be reimagined. Kinetic models of the catalyst and absorbent successfully predict the experimental long-term behavior and facilitate the design of an integrated system. These results present a framework for aligning intermittent and isolated renewable energy with ammonia synthesis by decreasing capital complexity and able electricity and the desire for a general electrification of the chemical industry has revealed that industrial ammonia synthesis is operating at a false optimization when only fossil fuels are considered as an energy source. Ammonia has been a foundational chemical for human civi- siderable lower CO2 emissions (0.4 tCO2∙tNH3−1) partially lization since it was first synthesized industrially in the early thanks to the use of highly efficient electric compressors
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