Small Scale and Distributed Type of Ammonia Synthesis by Sodium

Key points of this research results

  •  Ammonia synthesis by catalytic and chemical looping process based on sodium (Na) are proposed.
  • Ammonia can be synthesized from atmospheric pressure (0.1-1.0 MPa)of hydrogen and nitrogen gases.
  • The established techniques are composed of only sodium with high abundance (rare metal catalysts free)
  • It is expected that the proposed techniques are developed as small-scale and distributed type of ammonia synthesis process to convert renewable energy.

Outline

  Ammonia (NH3) is promising material as a carrier to store and transport renewable energy and/or a fuel with CO2 free. NH3 is industrially produced by the Haber-Bosch process, which is operated in high temperature and pressure, at present. However, this technique is established as mass production process and not suitable as conversion of renewable energy because of difficulty in down-sizing. Thus, small-scale and distributed types of NH3 synthesis processes are required. By establishing such techniques, effective utilization of unstable renewable energy can be realized. 　

  In this work, novel NH3 synthesis processes by catalytic and chemical looping process based on sodium (Na) were proposed and studied. As a result, it was clarified that NH3 can be synthesized via the formation of intermediate, which might be Na-nitrogen solid solution phase. By using the proposed techniques, NH3 can be produced from H2 and N2 in the pressure range from 0.1- 1.0 MPa without any rare metal catalysts. Therefore, it is expected that these techniques based on high abundant Na are developed as the small-scale and distributed types of NH3 synthesis process for effective utilization of renewable energy. 　

  The results of this work was highly evaluated from scientific and practical points of view and published as article in scientific journal 「International Journal of Hydrogen Energy」 (Q1 journal). 

  Paper Info
 Koki Tsunematsu, Hiroki Miyaoka*, Keita Shinzato, Masakuni Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Saima, Takayuki Ichikawa Ammonia Synthesis via Catalytic and Chemical-looping Process mediated by Sodium-Nitrogen Solid Solution International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2026) (IF: 8.3, Q1 journal) doi:10.1016/J.IJHYDENE.2024.02.379.


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