Project description
Sustainable electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonia conversion harnesses 3D printing
The Haber-Bosch process that converts hydrogen and nitrogen to ammonia is the main way fertiliser has been produced for more than a century. Its impact on farming, food production and population growth cannot be underestimated – but it consumes a tremendous amount of energy and contributes to high groundwater nitrate levels due to runoff from the fertilised land. Electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonia conversion can simultaneously reduce nitrate pollution and ammonia-related emissions. A lack of efficient catalysts has impeded progress. With the support of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, the RedNitro3D project will develop improved electrocatalysts and 3D printing technology to produce the cathodes and the electrolyser, paving the way to widespread use and a circular economy.
Objective
Ammonia is a fundamental molecule to produce fertilizers. It is one of the largest human-synthesized chemicals. Most of the ammonia is produced by the well-known Haber-Bosch (H-B) process, that is an energy-intensive industrial process, consuming around 1 to 2% of the worldwide energy output, and is responsible for large emission of greenhouse gases in the form of CO2. Therefore, alternative ways of producing ammonia with less environmental impact are urgently needed. Another very serious environmental problem is the nitrate contamination of water and soil, with dire consequences for aquatic ecosystems and human health. Reducing nitrate levels in groundwaters is paramount and is in line with the strategy of the European commission to preserve the balance of the ecosystem. To address these problems, electrochemical nitrate to ammonia conversion emerges as an ideal alternative, since nitrate pollution can be effectively reduced in waters, at the time that ammonia is produced on a decentralized scale. In this sense, RedNitro3D takes a step forward in solving these problems, by providing a viable strategy to reduce nitrate pollution, and at the same time take advantage of this process to obtain ammonia as a value-added product, generating profit, and enhancing the sustainability of the process. Thus, combining the electrochemical nitrate to ammonia conversion with the advances in 3D printing technology, a scalable method to prepare cathodes for electrolyzers for nitrate to ammonia conversion is proposed in RedNitro3D. The project will be implemented by following three main objectives: i) benchmarking state-of-the-art electrocatalysts, ii) integrating those electrocatalyst in a printable FDM filament to produce 3D printed cathodes, and iii) the design and implementation of a 3D printed electrolyzer containing the electrodes prepared previously. This project persues to achieve the revalorization of waste, and paves the way towards a circular economy.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis electrocatalysis
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering additive manufacturing
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
602 00 BRNO STRED
Czechia
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.