Issue 2, 2024

Electrocatalysis of nitrogen pollution: transforming nitrogen waste into high-value chemicals

Abstract

On 16 June 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme highlighted the severity of nitrogen pollution faced by humans and called for joint action for sustainable nitrogen use. Excess nitrogenous waste (NW: NO, NO2, NO2, NO3, etc.) mainly arises from the use of synthetic fertilisers, wastewater discharge, and fossil fuel combustion. Although the amount of NW produced can be minimised by reducing the use of nitrogen fertilisers and fossil fuels, the necessity to feed seven billion people on Earth limits the utility of this approach. Compared to current industrial processes, electrocatalytic NW reduction or CO2–NW co-reduction offers a potentially greener alternative for recycling NW and producing high-value chemicals. However, upgrading this technology to connect upstream and downstream industrial chains is challenging. This viewpoint focuses on electrocatalytic NW reduction, a cutting-edge technology, and highlights the challenges in its practical application. It also discusses future directions to meet the requirements of upstream and downstream industries by optimising production processes, including the pretreatment and supply of nitrogenous raw materials (e.g. flue gas and sewage), design and macroscopic preparation of electrocatalysts, and upscaling of reactors and other auxiliary equipment.

Graphical abstract: Electrocatalysis of nitrogen pollution: transforming nitrogen waste into high-value chemicals

Article information

Article type
Viewpoint
Submitted
31 авг 2023
First published
15 дек 2023

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024,53, 557-565

Electrocatalysis of nitrogen pollution: transforming nitrogen waste into high-value chemicals

Q. Wu, F. Zhu, G. Wallace, X. Yao and J. Chen, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024, 53, 557 DOI: 10.1039/D3CS00714F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements