Novel concepts for cold activation of energy-intensive chemical processes

In the change from fossil-based to renewable energy, processes to produce materials, fuels, and chemicals will start with low-energy molecules CO2, H2O, and N2. The process therefore needs energy, and instead of thermal it will be better and more efficiently supplied cold, i.e. in the form of e.g. electrons or photons, and the temperature will be kept as low as possible by efficient catalysis. Successful implementation will help speed up the transition to a sustainable society, and help green Norwegian and global chemical industry to take lead. In the COLD project we explored three concepts to this for the case of N2 activation: One focused on a recently discovered electric field enhanced surface protonic catalysis of ammonia synthesis. The two other comprised inventions as to the use of photons and ultrasound to drive endothermic processes related to production of nitrates from air and water. The project has been carried out in the research groups of profs. T. Norby and E. Uggerud at Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) and Department of Chemistry at the University of Oslo. It has run for 3 years, trained two post-doctor-level researchers, and had a budget close to 8 MNOK. The midterm milestones for the three concepts were all met in that all new technologies split and bonded nitrogen N2 to produce NH3 or NOx at lower temperatures than previously anticipated for comparative approaches. The effect of the electrical field rather than ohmic heating was confirmed, and a new regime of ammonia synthesis at even lower temperatures than before was discovered. Photocatalytic production of NOx from air was demonstrated. Finally, nitrates were produced by high energy cavitation during sonication of water with dissolved nitrogen and oxygen. The catalytic action of noble gases was explored. 2nd generation reactors were designed and built for scaling up for more quantitative analyses of product yields and energy efficiency, but was to hampered by the pandemic. Some outcomes are followed up in publications and other dissemination as the pandemic lightens, while others are pursued in application for patent and follow-up project for evaluation of commercialisation potential.

Prosjektet har ført til nytt samarbeid mellom grupper for Elektrokjemi og Teoretisk kjemi ved UiO. Gjennom etablerte kontakter og prosjektets rådgiverpanel er det knyttet nettverk til internasjonale miljøer og norsk kunstgjødselindustri. Dette øker evnen til å vurdere konseptene og forskningens potensial for anvendelse og utforming av strategier for oppfølging. Prosjektet har ført til bekreftelse på og ny forståelse for en ny katalytisk prosess for ammoniakksyntese, og for sonokjemisk syntese av nitrater. Dette er publisert eller under publisering. Prosjektet har videre ført til oppdagelse av en prosess for katalytisk syntese av ammoniakk i kaldt plasma. Denne er neppe energieffektiv nok, men interessant vitenskapelig sett. Endelig har prosjektet demonstrert en ny fotokatalytisk prosess for syntese av nitrater. Denne følges opp med IPR og danner sammen med sonokjemisk syntese og øvrige teknologier grunnlag for videre prosjektsøknader for å øke TRL mot innovasjon og kommersialisering.

In the change from fossil- to renewable-based energy, processes to produce materials, fuels, and chemicals must change from thermoneutral or exothermic to endothermic, and the raw chemicals will be low-energy molecules like CO2, H2O, and N2. Instead of thermal, the energy required will be better and more efficiently supplied cold, i.e. in the form mainly of electrons or photons, and the temperature will be kept as low as possible by low-activation energy paths. Successful implementation of such processes will help speed up the transition to a sustainable society, and will help Norwegian and global chemical industry to take lead in this respect. In the project COLD we explore three novel approaches to this: One applies novel aspects to a recently published electric field enhanced surface protonic catalysis. The two other comprise proprietary inventions as to the use of electrons and photons to drive endothermic processes. Example reactions addressed are related to fertiliser production and utilisation of CO2. The project is carried out in collaboration between the research groups of profs. T. Norby and E. Uggerud at Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) and Department of Chemistry at the University of Oslo. It runs for up to 3 years with midway evaluation, trains two post-doctor-level young researchers, and has a full-length budget close to 8 MNOK.