IP Library Granted Patent US 11,440,808
Granted Patent B2
US 11,440,808 · App. 16/314,979 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Ammonia synthesis methods and systems

Inventors: Brendan Cruz Colon (Cambridge, MA); Chong Liu (Cambridge, MA); Daniel G. Nocera (Winchester, MA); Pamela Ann Silver (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
C01C1/08B01J19/087C01C1/04C12P3/00C25B1/04C25B11/061B01J2219/00761
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,440,808
App. No.
16/314,979
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for producing ammonia are described. In one embodiment, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen are dissolved in a solution. A glutamine synthetase inhibitor and autotrophic diazotroph bacteria are also placed in the solution.

Claims (14)

1. A method for producing ammonia, the method comprising:

dissolving hydrogen in a solution;

dissolving carbon dioxide in the solution;

dissolving nitrogen in the solution;

placing a glutamine synthetase inhibitor in the solution;

placing autotrophic diazotroph bacteria in the solution, and

metabolizing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen with the autotrophic diazotroph bacteria to produce the ammonia.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein dissolving hydrogen in the solution further comprises splitting water in the solution to form hydrogen and oxygen.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein splitting water in the solution further comprises splitting water using a cathode including cobalt-phosphorus alloy and an anode including cobalt phosphate.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the solution includes a phosphate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein dissolving carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the solution further comprises bubbling carbon dioxide and nitrogen through the solution.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autotrophic diazotroph bacteria includes nitrogenase and hydrogenase enzymes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autotrophic diazotroph bacteria include Xanthobacter autotrophicus and/or Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glutamine synthetase inhibitor includes glufosinate (PPT) and/or methionine sulfoximine (MSO).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2020
From: COLON, BRENDAN CRUZ; LIU, CHONG; NOCERA, DANIEL G.; SILVER, PAMELA A.
To: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
Reel/Frame 053127/0283 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62358710 · Jul 6, 2016
Related Publication 20190202707A1 · Jul 4, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,570,536