Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia using a recyclable room temperature ionic liquid as an electrolyte solution

CHED 1085

Kyung-mee Lee, leex2208@morris.umn.edu and Ted M. Pappenfus, pappe001@morris.umn.edu. Division of Science and Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Morris, 600 East Fourth Street, Morris, MN 56267
Ammonia is the most demanding chemical compound in agriculture. To meet the high demand, ammonia has been produced by the Haber process. However, the Haber process utilizes methane, a fossil fuel, as a starting material to synthesize ammonia. In this project, we explored an alternative way to synthesize ammonia. We performed electrochemical synthesis of ammonia using a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) as an electrolyte solvent in the presence of lithium. The electrochemical condition has been optimized, and ammonia has been successfully synthesized utilizing the characteristics of the RTIL. The amount of ammonia synthesized was quantified by performing the Berthelot reaction. The electrochemical synthesis of ammonia was confirmed by analysis of the amount of coulombs applied and ammonia produced in the electrolysis.