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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Sustainable ammonia and amines from chitin
Hao Huang1, Shengyao Liu1, Xucong Guo1
1School of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
Abstract:
Efforts are underway to explore alternative methods to the Haber-Bosch process for sustainable ammonia production, while the potential for ammonia extraction from natural nitrogenous biomass is under-exploited. Here, a synergistic catalytic strategy involving acid and modified Ru-based catalysts is communicated for the direct production of amines and ammonia from chitin. Phosphoric acid promotes the cleavage of ether bonds in biomass polymers and also serves to protect amino groups from being removed. Selective hydrogenation, deoxygenation, and amination can be achieved by controllably adjusting the ratio of Ru0/Run+. The utilization of nitrogen atoms in chitin can reach up to 95 % (21 % amines, 74 % ammonium), and the catalytic process is applicable to waste shrimp shells. This study demonstrates the possibility of efficient production of nitrogen-containing compounds from abundant biopolymers.
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