This innovation uses non-thermal plasma technology to ionize atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen, forming reactive species that are absorbed into water, enriching it with plant-available nitrates and nitrites for sustainable fertilization.
This innovation leverages non-thermal plasma technology to ionize atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen, forming reactive species that are absorbed into water, enriching it with plant-available nitrates and nitrites (e.g. nitric acid).
Plasma is the fourth state of matter, and can be artificially generated from subjecting a neutral gas to a strong electric field. Lighting, for example, is a common and naturally occurring generator of plasma. Non-thermal plasma refers to partially ionised plasma, meaning that only the electron temperature is highly elevated, while the rest of the gas, ions and neutral atoms, stay around room temperature. As such, nitrogen fixation through non-thermal plasma application is a form of biomimicry; in nature, lighting strikes water with such energy that it breaks apart atmospheric nitrogen molecules, allowing them to ionise with atmospheric oxygen, forming reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Resulting nitrates and nitrites are then absorbed into water, ready to be applied to the field for fertilisation.
Current technologies in this field replicate this process industrially through, for example, discharging lightning into water in the presence of air to produce such ‘nitrogen-enriched’ or ‘plasma-activated’ water. Different types of non-thermal plasma technologies can be applied in different ways (e.g. ionic gas bubbled through water versus also ionizing water molecules) to manipulate the properties and concentrations of the resulting enriched water.
Thus, with only air, water and renewable electricity, atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed into aqueous plant-available nitrogen (low-concentration nitric acid) for fertilisation. It operates without the need for high pressures, extreme temperatures, nor any finite resources, making it a low-emission, energy-efficient and fossil-fuel free alternative to the Haber-Bosch process for nitrogen fertiliser production.
The overarching problem addressed is the environmental footprint of conventional nitrogen fertiliser production, dominated by the fossil-fuel reliant, energy-intensive and highly polluting Haber-Bosch process. By providing a clean alternative run on renewable electricity, reliant only on air and water as additional inputs, non-thermal plasma-based nitrogen fixation aims to mitigate the environmental impact of current fertiliser production through offering an alternative, potentially net-zero, solution. It additionally allows for more decentralised and on-site production, reducing transportation emissions and enabling more equitable fertiliser accessibility.
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Building trust amongst actors in the food system is important for such on-site modular designs, as primary producers may integrate with the fertiliser production industry. The proposed changes furthermore primarily affect fossil fuel industries and current production value chains, aligning with global efforts to shift away from them, potentially necessitating regulatory framework adjustments.
This innovation tackles the production of synthetic fertilisers, primarily affecting fossil fuel companies and traditional producers. It falls in line with a global shift to greener technologies and does not introduce a new or novel product; rather a new way of producing the same output.
Gaining social licence is crucial to drive research and development efforts forward, especially as much development is required before achieving commercial viability.
Securing stable financing is essential to support research and development efforts aimed at optimising the nitrogen fixation process and achieving commercial viability.
As this innovation is not producing a new output, there is already a healthy market present. However, financial incentives remain essential to spread risks. This technology is still very new and immature, requiring further development.
With any new and novel type of technology come potential changes and expansions in policy and regulations. Decentralised production poses potential safety and security risks, necessitating regulatory monitoring and potential adjustments.
Non-thermal plasma remains relatively new in agricultural application, requiring consistent monitoring and evaluation to safeguard from undesirable effects. Economic viability remains of paramount importance, necessitating continuous market monitoring.
Non-thermal plasma-based nitrogen fixation provides a complete alternative production process to conventional Haber-Bosch production, representing a new generation of technologies. Preparation of infrastructure and an enabling policy and regulatory environment is crucial for a smooth transitional. A widespread renewable grid is also of utmost importance for industrial-scale facilities.
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