Researchers Develop Efficient Catalyst for Sustainable Ammonia and Formic Acid Production
A team at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has created a three-component catalyst that significantly enhances ammonia yield from nitrate electrolysis, while also producing formic acid from glycerol oxidation.
A research team led by Dr. Dandan Gao at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has developed a novel three-component catalyst composed of copper, nickel, and tungsten, which increases ammonia yield from nitrate electrolysis by over 50% compared to previous catalysts. The process involves copper facilitating the removal of oxygen from nitrate, nickel generating hydrogen, and tungsten ensuring selective hydrogenation of nitrogen.
Implementing pulsed electrolysis, where the electrical voltage alternates between two values, further boosts ammonia production by 17%. Additionally, the method oxidizes glycerol—a byproduct of biodiesel production—at the anode, yielding formic acid, a valuable industrial chemical. This dual-product approach underscores the potential of energy-efficient coupled electrolysis in sustainable chemical manufacturing.