Electrochemical method supports nitrogen circular economy

Imagine a world where industrial waste is not reduced, it has turned into something useful. Such a circular economy already works for carbon. Now, researchers at the University of Washington in St. Louis have developed a promising passage to convert a major component of harmful nitric oxide, acid rain into valuable nitric acid, which is used from fertilizer production to metal processing in everyday applications.

Feng Jiao, Lauren and Lee Fixel developed a method to convert nitric oxide (NO) emissions to high-purity, concentrated nitric acid (HNO) at McKelwe School of Engineering at Washu, and colleagues at McKelwe School of Engineering at Washu.₃,

The new process operates in close-witted conditions with minimal infrastructure, offering economically viable solutions for industrial nitrogen waste with economic and environmental benefits. Published in work Nature,

“We have developed an electrical chemical approach to convert a toxic waste gas in valuable nitric acid,” Jiao said.

“Our primary motivation is to address waste gases from mining sites, where large amounts of nitric acid is used to dissolve metal ores, which leads to significant emissions. Our technology enables to make no conversion on nitric acid back-site for immediate reuse, which produces a more sustainable and circular process.”

The innovative electrochemical process uses low-cost carbon-based catalysts without any oxidation. When McKelway Engineering is combined with a single-metal oxygen redeeration catalist developed by Gang Wu, Professor of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering Professor, Gang Wu, Professor, the process is operated with low energy consumption to convert NO to NO.₃ Without the requirement of chemical additives or additional purification stages.

The electrochemical oxidation system is designed for “plug and play”, Jiao says, infrastructure or expensive raw materials are constructed on site without large investment, such as precious metals. It is flexible and adaptable for small or moderate -scale operations, and it works near room temperature, most prevalent reduces energy use, cost and environmental impact compared to no processing method, which requires elevated operating temperatures.

The system acquires more than 90% of Paradik Efficiency when using pure no. Even in low concentrations of NOs, the system retains more than 70% of forever efficiency, which makes it adapted to a wide variety of industrial waste currents.

Direct synthesis of concentrated high purity hNO₃—I weighing 32% – not from not and without electrolyte additives or downstream purification, sets an electrochemical passage to not bring any waste gases from water, which further enhances permanent pollution mitigation and chemical manufacturing.

Beyond mining, Jiao said that the approach could have comprehensive industrial applications as well as strong commercial abilities, which JIAO and his colleagues displayed in a detailed technical-economic analysis, showing that their process claims low energy consumption and lower cost compared to traditional HNOs.₃ Manufacturing methods.

Jiao said that it is a good business to convert industrial pollutants into valuable chemical products, as well as being good for the environment, Jiao said.

“Nitric acid output by our system can be used directly in mining applications or other chemical processes,” Jiao said.

“We have already achieved very impressive efficiency and purity in our output. Moving forward, we will work to make those numbers even better by scaling for practical applications. We are seeing how we can make this technique in nitrogen circular economy that will open more doors. Efficient and durable agricultureManufacturing and many other things. ,