Researchers in Australia are developing a new catalyst for one of the world’s most-produced chemicals.
Fertilizers, plastics, medicines, food—ammonia is essential for producing numerous everyday products. It is also crucial for the energy and transportation transition, particularly as a carrier for green hydrogen. With rising demand in these sustainable sectors, analysts expect the ammonia market to triple by 2050.
However, new eco-friendly production methods are needed. The current industry standard, the Haber-Bosch process, requires high temperatures and pressures, contributing up to 2% of global CO2 emissions. A potential solution, developed under the leadership of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia, could significantly reduce this footprint. Compared to the Haber-Bosch process, this new method would use 20% less heat and 98% less pressure, explains Dr. Karma Zuraiqi, lead author of the study published in Nature Catalysis. This is made possible by an innovative catalysis approach.
Liquid Gallium and Copper: “As effective as the gold standard”
While noble metals like ruthenium are typically used as catalysts to split nitrogen and hydrogen, the research team utilizes molten copper and gallium. These elements allow for more dynamic chemical reactions, improving efficiency, says RMIT professor Torben Daeneke. Though copper and gallium are poor catalysts on their own, together, they excel. Gallium facilitated nitrogen splitting in the experiments, while copper accelerated hydrogen splitting. The low-energy method proved as effective as the current gold standard but is more climate-friendly and cost-efficient.
Another benefit: while ammonia production via the Haber-Bosch process is only feasible in large plants, this alternative method can also be used for smaller, decentralized production, such as in solar parks, reducing transport costs and emissions.
RMIT now aims to commercialize this technology and scale it for various industrial applications.
More on raw materials and green ammonia: We have previously reported on eco-friendly ammonia production methods involving critical raw materials. For example, liquid gallium also played a central role in earlier RMIT research. Additionally, U.S. researchers recently discovered that rare earth elements could also help make ammonia production greener.
Photo: iStock/Igor Krasilov
