Ammonia synthesis methods and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019202707-A1
Application number	US-201716314979-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 4, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for producing ammonia are described. In one embodiment, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen are dissolved in a solution. A glutamine synthetase inhibitor and autotrophic diazotroph bacteria are also placed in the solution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for producing ammonia, the method comprising:
dissolving hydrogen in a solution; dissolving carbon dioxide in the solution; dissolving nitrogen in the solution; placing a glutamine synthetase inhibitor in the solution; and placing autotrophic diazotroph bacteria in the solution.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein dissolving hydrogen in the solution further comprises splitting water in the solution to form hydrogen and oxygen.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein splitting water in the solution further comprises splitting water using a cathode including cobalt-phosphorus alloy and an anode including cobalt phosphate.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the solution includes a phosphate.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein dissolving carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the solution further comprises bubbling carbon dioxide and nitrogen through the solution.

6 . A system for producing ammonia comprising:
a reactor chamber with a solution contained therein, wherein the solution includes dissolved hydrogen, dissolved carbon dioxide, dissolved nitrogen, a glutamine synthetase inhibitor, and autotrophic diazotroph bacteria

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a power source connected to a first electrode comprising a cobalt phosphorus alloy and a second electrode comprising cobalt phosphate, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are at least partially immersed in the solution within the reactor chamber.

8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a phosphate in the solution.

9 . Further comprising the system of claim 6 , further comprising a gas inlet that bubbles gas through the solution within the reactor chamber.

10 . The system of claim 9 , a gas source comprising at least one of nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide fluidly connected to the gas inlet.

Assignees

• Harvard College

Inventors

• Colon Brendan Cruz
• Liu Chong
• Nocera Daniel G
• Silver Pamela Ann

Classifications

• C12N1/20

  Bacteria; Culture media therefor · CPC title

• B01J19/087

  employing electric or magnetic energy · CPC title

• C25B1/04

  by electrolysis of water · CPC title

• C12P3/00

  Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide {(recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02)} · CPC title

• B01J2219/00761

  Details of the reactor · CPC title