A new reactor could triple yields of a valuable chemical

A new reactor could turn wastewater into drinking water while also generating one of the world’s most sought-after chemicals.

- VICTORIA ATKINSON

The new reactor produces ammonia gas from water contaminated with nitrate ions. Ammonia (NH3) is an extremely important industrial chemical. It is one of the key components in fertilisers and also vital in chemical manufacturing processes. Over 163 million tonnes are produced annually, mostly by the 100-year-old Haber-Bosch process – a high temperature, high pressure reaction between hydrogen and nitrogen. This one chemical reaction alone uses approximately two per cent of the world’s energy. Nitrate, on the other hand, pollutes rivers and streams when excess runoff from fertilised farmland enters local waterways. Nitrates devastate aquatic ecosystems, and at higher levels in drinking water can pose health risks. To be safe to drink, water must be thoroughly treated to remove nitrates.