Researchers have discovered a new way to produce a key fertilizer component, potentially transforming an industry responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to StanfordReport.
Stanford University and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia researchers have created a device that draws water vapor in the air through a mesh to produce ammonia — a key fertilizer ingredient. The mesh is coated with catalysts to create the necessary reaction.
Ammonia is currently made via the nearly century-old method of combining nitrogen and hydrogen at high pressures and temperatures via natural gas. This consumes 2% of global energy and contributes 1% of annual carbon dioxide emissions.
The researchers believe the new method could one day be used in farmers’ irrigation systems.
According to the UN Environment Programme, agriculture is the source of about one third of all greenhouse gas emissions.
“This breakthrough allows us to harness the nitrogen in our air and produce ammonia sustainably,” says the senior author of the study, Richard Zare, a professor of chemistry at the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. “It’s a significant step toward a decentralized and eco-friendly approach to agriculture.”
“This approach significantly reduces the carbon footprint of ammonia production,” adds study lead author Xiaowie Song, a chemistry research scientist at Stanford.
The researchers foresee the prototype device two to three years away from hitting the market and potentially having use in multiple industries to drastically reduce reliance on fossil fuels.