Sandia Licenses New Ammonia Technology To Loop Chemicals

Sandia National Laboratories licensed a new thermochemical looping ammonia technology to Loop Chemicals for commercialization through distributed ammonia production.

The pioneering technology will allow for ammonia plants with a smaller footprint than current methods, enabling production to take place closer to the point of use. Principal Investigator Dr. Andrea Ambrosini led the collaborative team of scientists from Sandia, Georgia Tech, and Arizona State University that designed the process.

“We are excited that Loop Chemicals chose to advance our innovative ammonia looping technology,” Ambrosini said. “We anticipate further collaboration with Loop and hope this step towards commercialization will eventually increase domestic ammonia production to benefit U.S. agriculture, rural communities, and America’s energy security.”

The thermochemical ammonia looping process is an alternative method for producing ammonia, a key ingredient in fertilizers and other chemicals. Unlike the traditional Haber-Bosch synthesis that operates at high pressures and has been in use for more than 100 years, this process uses metal nitride materials and hydrogen to create ammonia at much lower pressures. The metal nitride material provides the nitrogen needed to make ammonia and can be recycled using nitrogen gas, so the material can be reused repeatedly. This is important because it could make ammonia production more efficient and possibly less expensive.

The lower pressures of the thermochemical looping process also decrease safety risks and allow for the construction of smaller plants that can be co-located with ammonia customers, such as farms, greatly reducing transportation costs. The technology also can mitigate price uncertainties caused by fluctuations in the cost of natural gas and increase domestic production, supporting energy security amid global challenges.

For more information about the thermochemical looping process, read Sandia’s Market Sheet (https://ip.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/223/2024/01/Solar-Thermal-Ammonia-Production-SAND2024-00485M.pdf)