Work

Sustainable, electrified, and decentralized ammonia synthesis from diverse nitrogen feedstocks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Utilizing electrolysis to reduce nitrogen-containing compounds in wastewater, exhaust gas, and air is a potentially sustainable and cost-effective method to generate green ammonia via renewable electricity. Due to the variety in feedstocks, cell designs, and progressive decline in energy cost, a thorough study that evaluates the future of these technologies is essential. We studied feedstocks, including nitrate, nitrite, nitrous oxide from wastewater, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, dinitrogen tetroxide from the exhaust gas, and dinitrogen from air. We considered batch cell and flow cell designs. We looked at water, water vapor, and hydrogen as anodic feedstocks. Our study presents the projected future of these technologies in 2030. Our results show that integrating water vapor as anodic feedstock is a more promising pathway than green hydrogen. Furthermore, we optimized the size of the electrolyzer regarding dynamic and static operations. Finally, the key to the economic viability of electrochemical ammonia production is decentralization.

Source: Cell Reports Physical Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102497

Authors: Maryam Ahmadi, Mohammadreza Nazemi

Institution: Colorado State University

Language: English

Topic: Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction

Subfield: Catalysis

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,620