Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Significance The nitrogen cycle and the fixation of atmospheric N 2 into ammonium are crucial to global food production. The industrial Haber–Bosch process facilitates half the global nitrogen fixation in the form of ammonia but it is energy- and resource-intensive, using natural gas as the source of energy and hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure. Our alternative approach synthesizes ammonium from N 2 and H 2 O at ambient conditions powered by water splitting, which may be driven renewably. The inorganic–biological hybrid system fixes atmospheric nitrogen into NH 3 or soluble biomass with high fluxes and energy efficiency. Simultaneously, this system cultivates a living soil bacterium that acts as a potent biofertilizer amenable to boosting crop yields.
Institutions: Harvard University, Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
Subfield: Catalysis
Field: Chemical Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: National Science Foundation, Harvard University, TomKat Foundation, Nanyang Technological University, Center for the Environment, Harvard University, Arnold Arboretum, Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, Hansjörg Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Office of Naval Research
Awards: G4057248810, G8876996369
OpenAlex ID: W2621908234