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Fu E, Gong F, Wang S, Xiao R. Chemical Looping Technology in Mild-Condition Ammonia Production: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2305095. [PMID: 37653614 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia is an efficient and clean hydrogen carrier that promises to tackle the increasing energy and environmental problems. However, more than 90% of ammonia is produced by the Haber-Bosch process, and its enormous energy consumption and CO2 emissions require the development of novel alternatives. Chemical looping technology can decouple the one-step ammonia synthesis reaction into separated nitridation and hydrogenation processes at atmospheric pressure, thereby achieving the mild ammonia synthesis based on renewable energy. The strategy of stepwise reactions circumvents the problem of competing adsorption of N2 and H2 /H2 O at the active sites and provides additive freedom for optimal regulation of sub-reactions. This review introduces the concept and mechanism of chemical looping ammonia production (CLAP), and comprehensively summarizes the state-of-art research from the perspective of reaction pathways and nitrogen carriers. The challenges faced by CLAP and strategies to address them in terms of nitrogen carriers, methods, equipment, and technological processes are also proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enkang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
| | - Feng Gong
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
| | - Sijun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
| | - Rui Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
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Wang R, Gao W, Feng S, Guan Y, Wang Q, Guo J, Chen P. Zn Promotes Chemical Looping Ammonia Synthesis Mediated by LiH-Li 2 NH Couple. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202300813. [PMID: 37461801 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202300813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Chemical looping ammonia synthesis (CLAS) is a promising alternative route to ammonia production because of its advantages of avoiding competitive adsorption of N2 and hydrogen source (H2 O or H2 ) and intervening the scaling relations in the catalytic process. Our previous studies showed that NH3 can be synthesized at low temperatures via a CLAS mediated by an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydride-imide couple with the aid of transition metal catalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that a group-IIB metal Zn, which has rarely been studied in the thermal-catalytic process, can significantly promote the performance of the lithium hydride-lithium imide (LiH-Li2 NH)-mediated CLAS process (denoted as Zn-LiH-Li2 NH). The addition of Zn dramatically changes the reaction pathway of the LiH-Li2 NH mediated loop by forming a series of intermediates including Li2 NH, lithium zinc intermetallic compounds (LiZnx ), and a ternary metal nitride (LiZnN). LiZnN together with Li2 NH functions as nitrogen carrier in the Zn-LiH-Li2 NH-mediated CLAS. Because of these properties, the kinetics of N2 fixation is significantly enhanced with a reduction in apparent activation energy from 102 kJ mol-1 to 50 kJ mol-1 . The ammonia production rate reaches 956 μmol g-1 h-1 at 350 °C, which is 19 times higher than that of the neat LiH-Li2 NH-mediated CLAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Wang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Wenbo Gao
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Sheng Feng
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Zhang Dayu School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Yeqin Guan
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Qianru Wang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jianping Guo
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ping Chen
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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Abanades S. A Review of Oxygen Carrier Materials and Related Thermochemical Redox Processes for Concentrating Solar Thermal Applications. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:ma16093582. [PMID: 37176464 PMCID: PMC10180145 DOI: 10.3390/ma16093582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Redox materials have been investigated for various thermochemical processing applications including solar fuel production (hydrogen, syngas), ammonia synthesis, thermochemical energy storage, and air separation/oxygen pumping, while involving concentrated solar energy as the high-temperature process heat source for solid-gas reactions. Accordingly, these materials can be processed in two-step redox cycles for thermochemical fuel production from H2O and CO2 splitting. In such cycles, the metal oxide is first thermally reduced when heated under concentrated solar energy. Then, the reduced material is re-oxidized with either H2O or CO2 to produce H2 or CO. The mixture forms syngas that can be used for the synthesis of various hydrocarbon fuels. An alternative process involves redox systems of metal oxides/nitrides for ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2O based on chemical looping cycles. A metal nitride reacts with steam to form ammonia and the corresponding metal oxide. The latter is then recycled in a nitridation reaction with N2 and a reducer. In another process, redox systems can be processed in reversible endothermal/exothermal reactions for solar thermochemical energy storage at high temperature. The reduction corresponds to the heat charge while the reverse oxidation with air leads to the heat discharge for supplying process heat to a downstream process. Similar reversible redox reactions can finally be used for oxygen separation from air, which results in separate flows of O2 and N2 that can be both valorized, or thermochemical oxygen pumping to absorb residual oxygen. This review deals with the different redox materials involving stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric materials applied to solar fuel production (H2, syngas, ammonia), thermochemical energy storage, and thermochemical air separation or gas purification. The most relevant chemical looping reactions and the best performing materials acting as the oxygen carriers are identified and described, as well as the chemical reactors suitable for solar energy absorption, conversion, and storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Abanades
- Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, PROMES-CNRS, 7 Rue du Four Solaire, 66120 Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, France
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4
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Wang B, Shen L. Recent Advances in NH 3 Synthesis with Chemical Looping Technology. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c02926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Baoyi Wang
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing210096, China
| | - Laihong Shen
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing210096, China
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Lai Q, Cai T, Tsang SCE, Chen X, Ye R, Xu Z, Argyle MD, Ding D, Chen Y, Wang J, Russell AG, Wu Y, Liu J, Fan M. Chemical looping based ammonia production-A promising pathway for production of the noncarbon fuel. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2022; 67:2124-2138. [PMID: 36546112 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2022.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia, primarily made with Haber-Bosch process developed in 1909 and winning two Nobel prizes, is a promising noncarbon fuel for preventing global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. However, the undesired characteristics of the process, including high carbon footprint, necessitate alternative ammonia synthesis methods, and among them is chemical looping ammonia production (CLAP) that uses nitrogen carrier materials and operates at atmospheric pressure with high product selectivity and energy efficiency. To date, neither a systematic review nor a perspective in nitrogen carriers and CLAP has been reported in the critical area. Thus, this work not only assesses the previous results of CLAP but also provides perspectives towards the future of CLAP. It classifies, characterizes, and holistically analyzes the fundamentally different CLAP pathways and discusses the ways of further improving the CLAP performance with the assistance of plasma technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Lai
- College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie WY 82071, USA
| | - Tianyi Cai
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer in Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Shik Chi Edman Tsang
- Wolfson Catalysis, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QR, UK
| | - Xia Chen
- College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie WY 82071, USA; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Runping Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Zhenghe Xu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Morris D Argyle
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo UT 84602, USA
| | - Dong Ding
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls ID 83415, USA
| | - Yongmei Chen
- College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jianji Wang
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Armistead G Russell
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA 30332, USA
| | - Ye Wu
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Thermal Control of Electronic Equipment, School of Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Jian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China; DICP-Surrey Joint Centre for Future Materials, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, and Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guilford Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Maohong Fan
- College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie WY 82071, USA; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA 30332, USA.
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Du H, Shen P, Chai WS, Nie D, Shan C, Zhou L. Perspective and analysis of ammonia-based distributed energy system (DES) for achieving low carbon community in China. iScience 2022; 25:105120. [PMID: 36193046 PMCID: PMC9526156 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon reduction in the building sector is crucial in achieving the carbon neutrality goal by 2050. Combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system is a practical technology to achieve energy cascade utilization for building. However, methane usage in the present CCHP system results in carbon dioxide emission, which causes great global warming potential. Ammonia is a non-carbon fuel, implying a potentially powerful measure to achieve carbon neutral burning when serves as fuel for the CCHP system. In this article, we propose the CCHP system that uses ammonia as the fuel source. An ammonia-based distributed energy system (DES) model was developed using brown and green ammonia fuel and an objective function based on ammonia fraction and gas power capacity ratio was proposed. It is found that brown ammonia is more carbon-intensive than green ammonia, but it is cheaper than green ammonia in 2022. However, it is shown that the DES with green ammonia is more economically competitive than brown ammonia by 2050. Ammonia-based distributed energy system is proposed for community building stock Brown/green ammonia are compared in their emission and economic performance Shenzhen and Harbin are introduced as case study cities Green ammonia is more competitive in future emission and economic performance
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Pereira RL, Hu W, Metcalfe IS. Impact of Gas-Solid Reaction Thermodynamics on the Performance of a Chemical Looping Ammonia Synthesis Process. ENERGY & FUELS : AN AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL 2022; 36:9757-9767. [PMID: 36081854 PMCID: PMC9442650 DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c01372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Novel ammonia catalysts seek to achieve high reaction rates under milder conditions, which translate into lower costs and energy requirements. Alkali and alkaline earth metal hydrides have been shown to possess such favorable kinetics when employed in a chemical looping process. The materials act as nitrogen carriers and form ammonia by alternating between pure nitrogen and hydrogen feeds in a two-stage chemical looping reaction. However, the thermodynamics of the novel reaction route in question are only partially available. Here, a chemical looping process was designed and simulated to evaluate the sensitivity of the energy and economic performance of the processes toward the appropriate gas-solid reaction thermodynamics. Thermodynamic parameters, such as reaction pressure and especially equilibrium ammonia yields, influenced the performance of the system. In comparison to a commercial ammonia synthesis unit with a 28% yield at 150 bar, the chemical looping process requires a yield greater than 38% to achieve similar energy consumptions and a yield greater than 26% to achieve similar costs at a given temperature and 150 bar. Entropies and enthalpies of formation of the following pairs were estimated and compared: LiH/Li2NH, MgH2/MgNH, CaH2/CaNH, SrH2/SrNH, and BaH2/BaNH. Only the LiH/Li2NH pair has satisfied the given criteria, and initial estimates suggest that a 62% yield is obtainable.
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Fan J, Li W, Li S, Yang J. High-Throughput Screening of Bicationic Redox Materials for Chemical Looping Ammonia Synthesis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202811. [PMID: 35871554 PMCID: PMC9507380 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia recently has gained increasing attention as a carrier for the efficient and safe usage of hydrogen to further advance the hydrogen economy. However, there is a pressing need to develop new ammonia synthesis techniques to overcome the problem of intense energy consumption associated with the widely used Haber-Bosch process. Chemical looping ammonia synthesis (CLAS) is a promising approach to tackle this problem, but the ideal redox materials to drive these chemical looping processes are yet to be discovered. Here, by mining the well-established MP database, the reaction free energies for CLAS involving 1699 bicationic inorganic redox pairs are screened to comprehensively investigate their potentials as efficient redox materials in four different CLAS schemes. A state-of-the-art machine learning strategy is further deployed to significantly widen the chemical space for discovering the promising redox materials from more than half a million candidates. Most importantly, using the three-step H2 O-CL as an example, a new metric is introduced to determine bicationic redox pairs that are "cooperatively enhanced" compared to their corresponding monocationic counterparts. It is found that bicationic compounds containing a combination of alkali/alkaline-earth metals and transition metal (TM)/post-TM/metalloid elements are compounds that are particularly promising in this respect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Fan
- Materials and Manufacturing Futures InstituteSchool of Material Science and EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South Wales2052Australia
| | - Wenxian Li
- Materials and Manufacturing Futures InstituteSchool of Material Science and EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South Wales2052Australia
| | - Sean Li
- Materials and Manufacturing Futures InstituteSchool of Material Science and EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South Wales2052Australia
| | - Jack Yang
- Materials and Manufacturing Futures InstituteSchool of Material Science and EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South Wales2052Australia
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Chang F, Gao W, Guo J, Chen P. Emerging Materials and Methods toward Ammonia-Based Energy Storage and Conversion. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005721. [PMID: 33834538 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Efficient storage and conversion of renewable energies is of critical importance to the sustainable growth of human society. With its distinguishing features of high hydrogen content, high energy density, facile storage/transportation, and zero-carbon emission, ammonia has been recently considered as a promising energy carrier for long-term and large-scale energy storage. Under this scenario, the synthesis, storage, and utilization of ammonia are key components for the implementation of ammonia-mediated energy system. Being different from fossil fuels, renewable energies normally have intermittent and variable nature, and thus pose demands on the improvement of existing technologies and simultaneously the development of alternative methods and materials for ammonia synthesis and storage. The energy release from ammonia in an efficient manner, on the other hand, is vital to achieve a sustainable energy supply and complete the nitrogen circle. Herein, recent advances in the thermal-, electro-, plasma-, and photocatalytic ammonia synthesis, ammonia storage or separation, ammonia thermal/electrochemical decomposition and conversion are summarized with the emphasis on the latest developments of new methods and materials (catalysts, electrodes, and sorbents) for these processes. The challenges and potential solutions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chang
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Wenbo Gao
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jianping Guo
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
- Energy College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
- Energy College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Dalian, 116023, China
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10
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Liu B, Manavi N, Deng H, Huang C, Shan N, Chikan V, Pfromm P. Activation of N 2 on Manganese Nitride-Supported Ni 3 and Fe 3 Clusters and Relevance to Ammonia Formation. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:6535-6542. [PMID: 34242033 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dual-site models were constructed to represent manganese nitride (Mn4N)-supported Ni3 and Fe3 clusters for NH3 synthesis. Density functional theory calculations produced an energy barrier of approximately 0.55 eV for N-N bond activation at the interfacial nitrogen vacancy sites (Nv); also, the hydrogenation and removal of interfacial N is promoted by earth-abundant Ni and Fe metals. Steady-state microkinetic modeling revealed that the turnover frequencies of NH3 production follow an order of Fe3@Mn4N ≈ Ni3@Mn4N > Mn4N > Fe ≫ Ni. Moreover, we present clear evidence that, before NH3 formation, NH migrates from Nv onto the metallic sites. Using N binding energy (BEN) and the transition-state energy of N2 activation (ETS) as descriptors, we concluded that the beneficial effects owing to interfacial Nv sites are the most pronounced when BEN is either too strong or too weak while ETS is high; otherwise, excessive Nv sites may hinder catalyst performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Narges Manavi
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Hao Deng
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Chaoran Huang
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Nannan Shan
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Viktor Chikan
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Peter Pfromm
- Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
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Guo J, Chen P. Interplay of Alkali, Transition Metals, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen in Ammonia Synthesis and Decomposition Reactions. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:2434-2444. [PMID: 33913703 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
ConspectusThe fixation of dinitrogen to ammonia is critically important for the biogeochemical cycle on earth. Ammonia also holds promise as a sustainable energy carrier. Tremendous effort has been devoted to the development of green processes and advanced materials for ammonia synthesis and decomposition under milder conditions, and encouraging progress has been made.The reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia needs electrons and protons, which hydridic hydrogen H- could supply. Polarized, electron-rich NxHy intermediates, on the other hand, can be stabilized by alkali or alkaline earth metal cations to lower kinetic barriers in the transformation. The inherent properties of alkali/alkaline earth metal hydrides (denoted as AH) endow them with a unique function in ammonia synthesis.In this Account, recent efforts in the exploration of alkali or alkaline earth metal hydrides (denoted as AH), amides, and imides (denoted as ANH hereafter) for ammonia synthesis and decomposition reactions will be summarized and discussed. We begin with an introduction to the chemistry of A with N2, NH3, and H2, highlighting the interconversion between AH and ANH that has profound implications on the formation and decomposition of NH3. We then present our finding on the strong synergistic effect between ANH and transition metals (TM) in ammonia decomposition catalysis, which stimulated our subsequent research on AH for ammonia synthesis. We discuss the effect and function mechanism of AH in the thermocatalytic and chemical looping ammonia synthesis processes. In the thermocatalytic process, AH cooperates with both early and late TM forming either composite catalysts with two active centers or complex metal hydride catalysts with electron- and hydrogen-rich ionic centers facilitating ammonia synthesis with high activities at lower temperatures. Very interestingly, AH levels the catalytic performances of TMs and intervenes in the energy-scaling relations of TM-only catalysts. Moreover, ANH serves as a new type nitrogen carrier effectively mediating ammonia synthesis via a low-temperature chemical looping process, in which N2 is fixed by AH forming ANH. Subsequently, ANH is hydrogenated to ammonia and AH. Late TMs have a strong catalytic effect on the chemical looping process. The unique interplay of A, N, TM, and H- offers plenty of opportunities for achieving dinitrogen conversion under mild conditions, while further efforts are needed to address the challenges in the fundamental understanding and practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Guo
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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12
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Ammonia as Effective Hydrogen Storage: A Review on Production, Storage and Utilization. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13123062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia is considered to be a potential medium for hydrogen storage, facilitating CO2-free energy systems in the future. Its high volumetric hydrogen density, low storage pressure and stability for long-term storage are among the beneficial characteristics of ammonia for hydrogen storage. Furthermore, ammonia is also considered safe due to its high auto ignition temperature, low condensation pressure and lower gas density than air. Ammonia can be produced from many different types of primary energy sources, including renewables, fossil fuels and surplus energy (especially surplus electricity from the grid). In the utilization site, the energy from ammonia can be harvested directly as fuel or initially decomposed to hydrogen for many options of hydrogen utilization. This review describes several potential technologies, in current conditions and in the future, for ammonia production, storage and utilization. Ammonia production includes the currently adopted Haber–Bosch, electrochemical and thermochemical cycle processes. Furthermore, in this study, the utilization of ammonia is focused mainly on the possible direct utilization of ammonia due to its higher total energy efficiency, covering the internal combustion engine, combustion for gas turbines and the direct ammonia fuel cell. Ammonia decomposition is also described, in order to give a glance at its progress and problems. Finally, challenges and recommendations are also given toward the further development of the utilization of ammonia for hydrogen storage.
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13
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Shan N, Huang C, Lee RT, Manavi N, Xu L, Chikan V, Pfromm PH, Liu B. Manipulating the Geometric and Electronic Structures of Manganese Nitrides for Ammonia Synthesis. ChemCatChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201902383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Shan
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Chaoran Huang
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Robert T. Lee
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Narges Manavi
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Lianbin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing 100029 P.R. China
| | - Viktor Chikan
- Department of Chemistry Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Peter Heinz Pfromm
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
- Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering Washington State University Pullman WA 99164 USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
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14
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Armstrong CD, Teixeira AR. Advances in dynamically controlled catalytic reaction engineering. REACT CHEM ENG 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0re00330a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Dynamically forced input oscillations exhibit ability to surpass classical thermodynamic barriers through reactor operation and surface resonance.
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Bartel CJ, Rumptz JR, Weimer AW, Holder AM, Musgrave CB. High-Throughput Equilibrium Analysis of Active Materials for Solar Thermochemical Ammonia Synthesis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:24850-24858. [PMID: 30920791 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b01242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Solar thermochemical ammonia (NH3) synthesis (STAS) is a potential route to produce NH3 from air, water, and concentrated sunlight. This process involves the chemical looping of an active redox pair that cycles between a metal nitride and its complementary metal oxide to yield NH3. To identify promising candidates for STAS cycles, we performed a high-throughput thermodynamic screening of 1,148 metal nitride/metal oxide pairs. This data-driven screening was based on Gibbs energies of crystalline metal oxides and nitrides at elevated temperatures, G(T), calculated using a recently introduced statistically learned descriptor and 0 K DFT formation energies tabulated in the Materials Project database. Using these predicted G(T) values, we assessed the viability of each of the STAS reactions-hydrolysis of the metal nitride, reduction of the metal oxide, and nitrogen fixation to reform the metal nitride-and analyzed a revised cycle that directly converts between metal oxides and nitrides, which alters the thermodynamics of the STAS cycle. For all 1148 redox pairs analyzed and each of the STAS-relevant reactions, we implemented a Gibbs energy minimization scheme to predict the equilibrium composition and yields of the STAS cycle, which reveals new active materials based on B, V, Fe, and Ce that warrant further investigation for their potential to mediate the STAS cycle. This work details a high-throughput approach to assessing the relevant temperature-dependent thermodynamics of thermochemical redox processes that leverages the wealth of publicly available temperature-independent thermodynamic data calculated using DFT. This approach is readily adaptable to discovering optimal materials for targeted thermochemical applications and enabling the predictive synthesis of new compounds using thermally controlled solid-state reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Aaron M Holder
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory , Golden , Colorado 80401 , United States
| | - Charles B Musgrave
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory , Golden , Colorado 80401 , United States
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16
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Gao W, Guo J, Chen P. Hydrides, Amides and Imides Mediated Ammonia Synthesis and Decomposition. CHINESE J CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.201800586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Gao
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of Sciences Dalian Liaoning 116023 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Jianping Guo
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of Sciences Dalian Liaoning 116023 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials Dalian Liaoning 116023 China
| | - Ping Chen
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of Sciences Dalian Liaoning 116023 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials Dalian Liaoning 116023 China
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17
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Singh A. Thermodynamic Analysis of Syngas Production and Sulfur Capturing from a Mixture of Methane and Hydrogen Sulfide Using a Solar Thermochemical Redox Cycle. Ind Eng Chem Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b02484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Singh
- Department of Physics, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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18
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Chen JG, Crooks RM, Seefeldt LC, Bren KL, Bullock RM, Darensbourg MY, Holland PL, Hoffman B, Janik MJ, Jones AK, Kanatzidis MG, King P, Lancaster KM, Lymar SV, Pfromm P, Schneider WF, Schrock RR. Beyond fossil fuel-driven nitrogen transformations. Science 2018; 360:360/6391/eaar6611. [PMID: 29798857 DOI: 10.1126/science.aar6611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 740] [Impact Index Per Article: 123.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen is fundamental to all of life and many industrial processes. The interchange of nitrogen oxidation states in the industrial production of ammonia, nitric acid, and other commodity chemicals is largely powered by fossil fuels. A key goal of contemporary research in the field of nitrogen chemistry is to minimize the use of fossil fuels by developing more efficient heterogeneous, homogeneous, photo-, and electrocatalytic processes or by adapting the enzymatic processes underlying the natural nitrogen cycle. These approaches, as well as the challenges involved, are discussed in this Review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingguang G Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. .,Chemistry Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Richard M Crooks
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Lance C Seefeldt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84332, USA.
| | - Kara L Bren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | | | | | | | - Brian Hoffman
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Michael J Janik
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Anne K Jones
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | | | - Paul King
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Kyle M Lancaster
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Baker Laboratory, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sergei V Lymar
- Chemistry Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Peter Pfromm
- Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6515, USA
| | - William F Schneider
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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19
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Heidlage MG, Kezar EA, Snow KC, Pfromm PH. Thermochemical Synthesis of Ammonia and Syngas from Natural Gas at Atmospheric Pressure. Ind Eng Chem Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.7b03173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Heidlage
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Kezar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Kyle C. Snow
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Peter H. Pfromm
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
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20
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Michalsky R, Steinfeld A. Computational screening of perovskite redox materials for solar thermochemical ammonia synthesis from N 2 and H 2 O. Catal Today 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2016.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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Shan N, Zhou M, Hanchett MK, Chen J, Liu B. Practical principles of density functional theory for catalytic reaction simulations on metal surfaces – from theory to applications. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2017.1303687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Shan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Mingxia Zhou
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Mary K. Hanchett
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Josephine Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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22
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Wu Y, Jiang G, Zhang H, Sun Z, Gao Y, Chen X, Liu H, Tian H, Lai Q, Fan M, Liu D. Fe2O3, a cost effective and environmentally friendly catalyst for the generation of NH3– a future fuel – using a new Al2O3-looping based technology. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:10664-10667. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cc04742h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Fe2O3is found to be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly catalyst for chemical looping generation of NH3– a future fuel.
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23
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Michalsky R, Pfromm PH, Steinfeld A. Rational design of metal nitride redox materials for solar-driven ammonia synthesis. Interface Focus 2015; 5:20140084. [PMID: 26052421 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2014.0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fixed nitrogen is an essential chemical building block for plant and animal protein, which makes ammonia (NH3) a central component of synthetic fertilizer for the global production of food and biofuels. A global project on artificial photosynthesis may foster the development of production technologies for renewable NH3 fertilizer, hydrogen carrier and combustion fuel. This article presents an alternative path for the production of NH3 from nitrogen, water and solar energy. The process is based on a thermochemical redox cycle driven by concentrated solar process heat at 700-1200°C that yields NH3 via the oxidation of a metal nitride with water. The metal nitride is recycled via solar-driven reduction of the oxidized redox material with nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. We employ electronic structure theory for the rational high-throughput design of novel metal nitride redox materials and to show how transition-metal doping controls the formation and consumption of nitrogen vacancies in metal nitrides. We confirm experimentally that iron doping of manganese nitride increases the concentration of nitrogen vacancies compared with no doping. The experiments are rationalized through the average energy of the dopant d-states, a descriptor for the theory-based design of advanced metal nitride redox materials to produce sustainable solar thermochemical ammonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Michalsky
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering , ETH Zürich , 8092 Zürich , Switzerland
| | - Peter H Pfromm
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Kansas State University , 1005 Durland Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506 , USA
| | - Aldo Steinfeld
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering , ETH Zürich , 8092 Zürich , Switzerland
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Twite AA, Hsiao SC, Onoe H, Mathies RA, Francis MB. Direct attachment of microbial organisms to material surfaces through sequence-specific DNA hybridization. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2012; 24:2380-5. [PMID: 22431245 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201104336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Revised: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A new technique is reported for the attachment of synthetic DNA strands to the surfaces of microbial organisms. This gives algal, bacterial, and fungal cells the ability to bind to complementary strands extending from patterned surfaces that can be produced on platforms such as microfluidic devices. The ability of this method to establish complex 2- and 3-dimensional cocultures comprising multiple organism types is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy A Twite
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1460, USA
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25
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Michalsky R, Pfromm PH. Thermodynamics of metal reactants for ammonia synthesis from steam, nitrogen and biomass at atmospheric pressure. AIChE J 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.13717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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26
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Gálvez ME, Frei A, Meier F, Steinfeld A. Production of AlN by Carbothermal and Methanothermal Reduction of Al2O3 in a N2 Flow Using Concentrated Thermal Radiation. Ind Eng Chem Res 2008. [DOI: 10.1021/ie8011193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. E. Gálvez
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland and Solar Technology Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - A. Frei
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland and Solar Technology Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - F. Meier
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland and Solar Technology Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - A. Steinfeld
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland and Solar Technology Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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27
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Johnson MT, Vaughan NE, Goodwin P, Goldblatt C, Roudesli S, Lenton TM. Why NH3is not a candidate reagent for ambient CO2fixation: A response to “Alternative solution to global warming arising from CO2emissions-Partial neutralization of tropospheric H2CO3with NH3”. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1002/ep.10298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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