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Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Electrocatalysis of nitrogen pollution: transforming nitrogen waste into high-value chemicals
Qilong Wu1, Fangfang Zhu2, Gordon Wallace1
1Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia. junc@uow.edu.au.
Abstract:
On 16 June 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme highlighted the severity of nitrogen pollution faced by humans and called for joint action for sustainable nitrogen use. Excess nitrogenous waste (NW: NO, NO2, NO2-, NO3-, etc.) mainly arises from the use of synthetic fertilisers, wastewater discharge, and fossil fuel combustion. Although the amount of NW produced can be minimised by reducing the use of nitrogen fertilisers and fossil fuels, the necessity to feed seven billion people on Earth limits the utility of this approach. Compared to current industrial processes, electrocatalytic NW reduction or CO2-NW co-reduction offers a potentially greener alternative for recycling NW and producing high-value chemicals. However, upgrading this technology to connect upstream and downstream industrial chains is challenging. This viewpoint focuses on electrocatalytic NW reduction, a cutting-edge technology, and highlights the challenges in its practical application. It also discusses future directions to meet the requirements of upstream and downstream industries by optimising production processes, including the pretreatment and supply of nitrogenous raw materials (e.g. flue gas and sewage), design and macroscopic preparation of electrocatalysts, and upscaling of reactors and other auxiliary equipment.
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