Work Package 2.3

Work Package 2.3

About:
Reactive N (Nr) can be captured from gaseous and aqueous waste streams and has the potential to significantly alter the nitrogen cycle if the captured Nr can be converted economically to value-added products, like fertilisers. Adsorption-desorption based cyclic processes present a promising option to capture Nr from a majority of sources. In an innovative approach, suitable matrix-like porous sorbents (based on metal oxide modified zeolites for NOx capture), will be designed to have a higher affinity towards the target molecules. The synthesised sorbents, along with existing commercial sorbents, will be investigated at a lab-scale to understand the physical phenomenon governing the Nr capture process. The physical and thermodynamic parameters, thus obtained, would be utilised to model cyclic adsorption separation processes. Such models, along with models for the conversion of Nr into value-added products, will then be utilised to carry out detailed optimisation studies to ensure maximum process efficiency. Once the technology is proven, the vibrant KIIT-Technology Business Incubator will carry out economic viability studies for its possible commercialisation. South Asian NOx emissions contain Nr worth $4 billion/year ($12 billion projected by 2030), highlighting the scope to develop an economically viable technology. Further opportunity and intermediate goals arise considering the potential for NH3 recovery from the rapidly growing biomass gasification sector. Contextual comparisons will be made with the findings of other ongoing work on water-based Nr recovery (e.g. struvite, NH3-stripping, gypsum reaction).

Work package level Specific objectives 

• To synthesise novel adsorbent materials for selective NH3 and NOx capture and release
• To characterise a few selected commercial adsorbents, along-with synthesised novel adsorbents for NOx and NH3 adsorption
• Perform a preliminary economic assessment of producing value-added products from the captured NOx and NH3

Work package level-specific questions or hypotheses

• Presence of a significant amount of water vapour in gaseous streams, particularly in the biomass gasification syngas
• Stability of adsorbent materials over a large number of operation cycles
   

Work Package Leads:

• Suar (KIIT)
• Brandani (UoE)

Partners:

• CEH
• University of Edinburgh
• KIIT