Mechanocatalytic synthesis of ammonia at room temperature and atmospheric pressure
Unimagined effect: The grinding process in a ball mill activates a catalyst in such a way that it facilitates the synthesis of ammonia at a much lower temperature and pressure than is necessary in the well-established Haber-Bosch process.
© Frank Vinken / MPG
In an Angewandte-paper hot off the press, Steffen Reichle, Michael Felderhoff and Ferdi Schüth report the mechanocatalytic synthesis of ammonia over a cesium-promoted iron catalyst under mild conditions. Ammonia synthesis normally requires temperatures of 400-500°C and pressures of 150-300 bar. Ammonia is the basis of all nitrogen-containing fertilizers and is under discussion as transport and storage molecule for hydrogen in future energy systems. It is estimated that currently about 2 % of the global energy demand is used for ammonia synthesis.
More information:
Publication in Angewandte Int. Ed.
S. Reichle, M. Felderhoff, F. Schüth. "Mechanocatalytic Room-Temperature Synthesis of Ammonia from Its Elements Down to Atmospheric Pressure", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., DOI: 10.1002/anie.202112095
Article "Dream reaction in the ball mill"
by science editor Peter Hergersberg of the Max Planck Society
