Y3Fe5O12nanocatalyst for green ammonia production by using magnetic induction method

Abstract

Ammonia production is an energy-intensive industry as it requires high temperature (400-500°C) and also high pressure (150-300bar). This motivates research to finding greener and lower energy process for ammonia synthesis. In this work, Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) nanocatalyst that has large surface area was synthesized. Ammonia was produced at ambient environment by using the Magnetic Induction Method (MIM).The Y3Fe 5O12nanoparticles were prepared using the sol-gel technique and were sintered at three different temperatures (950-1150°C). The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns show the major peak at [420] plane with the value of a=b=c=12.38Awhich indicates a cubic structure. The magnetic saturation (Ms) value of the samples is 16.6emu/g. The reducibility of the particles was described from the Temperature Program Reduction (TPR) profile at 806°C where all the oxide phase is changed to metallic phase. Ammonia yield of 242.56μmole/h.g-cat was successfully obtained at 0°C reaction temperature. It was observed that ammonia synthesis that was conducted at 0°C temperature resulted in higher ammonia yield indicating a better spin alignment and hence improved catalytic activities. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.