Patent · US Expired

Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia

US7314544B2 · kind B2 · utility

32Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 25, 2005
Grant dateJan 1, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 3, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC25B1/27
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for the anodic electrochemical synthesis of ammonia gas. The method comprises providing an electrolyte between an anode and a cathode, providing nitrogen and hydrogen gases to the cathode, oxidizing negatively charged nitrogen-containing species and negatively charged hydrogen-containing species present in the electrolyte at the anode to form adsorbed nitrogen species and adsorbed hydrogen species, respectively, and reacting the adsorbed nitrogen species with the adsorbed hydrogen species to form ammonia. Nitrogen and hydrogen gases may be provided through a porous cathode substrate. The negatively charged nitrogen-containing species in the electrolyte may be produced by reducing nitrogen gas at the cathode and/or by supplying a nitrogen-containing salt, such as lithium nitride, into the molten salt electrolyte. Similarly, the negatively charged hydrogen-containing species in the electrolyte may be produced by reducing hydrogen gas at the cathode and/or by supplying a hydrogen-containing salt, such as lithium hydride, into the molten salt electrolyte.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.