Geological ammonia: Stimulated NH3 production from rocks

IF 38.6 1区材料科学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL

Joule Pub Date : 2025-01-21 DOI:10.1016/j.joule.2024.12.006

Yifan Gao, Ming Lei, Bachu Sravan Kumar, Hugh Barrett Smith, Seok Hee Han, Lokesh Sangabattula, Ju Li, Iwnetim I. Abate

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Abstract

Although ammonia production is crucial for global agriculture, it comes with substantial carbon footprints. Here, for the first time, we propose and demonstrate a different method for stimulated (proactive) and in situ geological ammonia (Geo-NH₃) production directly from rocks. Our approach demonstrated that NH₃ can be efficiently generated by reacting natural (Fe,Mg)₂SiO₄ (olivine) minerals with nitrate-source water at 130°C–300°C and 0.25–8.5 MPa, and even at ambient temperature and pressure. Using both actual rocks and synthetic mineral Fe(OH)₂, we investigated mechanisms and optimized conditions through experiments and theoretical calculations. We revealed the basic chemistry enabling Geo-NH₃ production: Fe²⁺ contained in rocks reduces the nitrate source to NH₃. Our approach, involving only the injection of nitrate-source water into the subsurface to utilize in situ subsurface heat and pressure, requires no external H₂ or electric current and emits no direct CO₂, offering a feasible alternative to sustainable NH₃ production at scale.

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来源期刊

Joule Energy-General Energy

CiteScore

53.10

自引率

2.00%

发文量

198

期刊介绍： Joule is a sister journal to Cell that focuses on research, analysis, and ideas related to sustainable energy. It aims to address the global challenge of the need for more sustainable energy solutions. Joule is a forward-looking journal that bridges disciplines and scales of energy research. It connects researchers and analysts working on scientific, technical, economic, policy, and social challenges related to sustainable energy. The journal covers a wide range of energy research, from fundamental laboratory studies on energy conversion and storage to global-level analysis. Joule aims to highlight and amplify the implications, challenges, and opportunities of novel energy research for different groups in the field.