China developed an artificial
intelligence-driven electrochemical technology to convert nitrate-containing
wastewater into ammonia
¨
China developed an
artificial intelligence-driven electrochemical technology to convert
nitrate-containing wastewater into ammonia.
¨
The produced ammonia can
be used for fertiliser production.
¨
The system uses dual-atom
catalysts in the conversion process.
¨
Unlike the traditional
Haber-Bosch process, the new method operates at room temperature.
¨
Artificial intelligence
was used to identify a highly efficient dual-atom catalyst.
¨
In a dual-atom catalyst,
two active metal atoms are positioned close to each other.
¨
This arrangement improves
the selectivity and efficiency of chemical reactions.
¨
The method converts
nitrates found in agricultural runoff and industrial wastewater into ammonia.
¨
In the process, nitrate
ions in wastewater undergo electrochemical reduction.
¨
This reduction process
converts nitrates into ammonia.
¨
Ammonia is a major raw
material for nitrogen fertilisers such as urea and ammonium compounds.
¨
The reported conversion
efficiency is nearly three times higher than previous nitrate-to-ammonia
technologies.
¨
The Haber-Bosch process
was developed in the early twentieth century.
¨
It produces ammonia from
nitrogen and hydrogen under high temperature and pressure.
¨
It remains one of the
most energy-intensive industrial chemical processes in the world.
¨ The new electrochemical method works at room temperature.
¨ This reduces the energy required for ammonia production.
