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Updated: May 27, 2025

Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure
Published on: August 23, 2017
Ammonia (NH3) Production from the Thermal Decomposition of Hydroxylammonium Nitrate (HAN) as a Green Energetic Source
Adil Souagh1, Assia Mabrouk2, Ahmed Bachar3
1Faculty of Sciences, University of Chouaib Doukkali, 24000 El Jadida, Morocco.
Abstract:
Ammonia's (NH3) high hydrogen concentration and simplicity of storage and transportation have made it a promising energy source, especially for hydrogen production. Using an iridium (Ir)-based catalyst for clean space applications, this study examines the release of NH3 during the thermal decomposition of hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN), a green energetic propellant. Differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry in conjunction with mass spectrometry (DTA-TG/MS) was used to examine the thermal decomposition. The generation of NH3 was verified by subsequent fragment analysis. Coupled cluster approaches were utilized to validate NH3 generation and to further clarify the reaction process. Combining the theoretical and experimental methods highlights the feasibility of employing HAN as a precursor for NH3 production, indicating that it can be used as a sustainable energy source for space propulsion systems. The effect of temperature on NH3 production using a coupled cluster is also explored.
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