Researchers at McMaster University are developing a method to produce ammonia from wastewater instead of fossil fuels. The process uses electrochemical reactions to convert nitrogen pollutants in wastewater into ammonia, which can be used as fertilizer or as a carbon-free fuel for ships and heavy industry. This approach could reduce the carbon footprint of ammonia production, which currently relies on the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process that accounts for roughly 2% of global energy use. The technology is still in early stages but addresses two problems at once: cleaning up nitrogen pollution in wastewater and producing a valuable chemical without fossil fuels. If scaled, it could help decarbonize fertilizer production and provide a low-carbon fuel for hard to electrify sectors like shipping. The authors note that the economics and scalability remain open questions, but the research direction is promising for cutting emissions from a major industrial process.
