SusChEM: Chemical Reaction Engineering for Sustainable Production of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Hydrogen Peroxide by Non Thermal Plasma

[1702166] PI: Locke， Bruce提议的工作的主要目的是通过实验研究使用气液非热等离子体反应器可持续地化学生产硝酸盐和过氧化氢。该项目还旨在促进对化学合成气液等离子体反应器设计原则的理解。该提案的基本主题是，在绿色化学过程中，为农民提供一种利用可持续资源（如水、空气和太阳能）在当地生产氮肥和过氧化氢农药的方法，是减少肥料生产对环境的影响，提高农民生产力和利润率的理想方法。该项目将通过减少化肥和农药生产中石油原料的使用，促进化学反应工程的可持续性。拟议的研究旨在对如何利用非热等离子体反应器形成硝酸盐和其他物质进行详细分析。在等离子体反应器中，等离子体放电通道在流动的气体和流动的液体之间的界面上形成并沿其传播。待开发的反应器设计原则包括确定等离子体特性如何与反应器特性和电气条件相互作用，以促进涉及氮氧化物的合成化学反应。该项目有三个具体目标，针对三个主要假设。第一个具体目标涉及化学反应机理的分析，主要假设是硝酸盐形成的主要反应途径是通过羟基自由基反应。第二个具体目标是分析等离子体特性和电源特性，并确定这些特性如何相互作用并影响化学反应途径。主要的假设是硝酸盐的形成效率可以通过等离子体温度、电子密度和输入功率特性（脉冲功率、电压、频率）的变化来控制。第三个具体目标是分析和开发新的化学反应器设计特点，以提高性能。主要的假设是，气液等离子体反应器内部几何形状的改变（包括通道大小和喷嘴直径）会影响表面积、气液停留时间和等离子体接触，从而通过影响羟基自由基等关键反应物质的形成来影响硝酸盐的形成。计划通过FAMU-FSU工程学院挑战者中心开展外展活动，包括介绍和学习等离子体应用以及与绿色化学合成和农业相关的主题。

1702166 PI: Locke, Bruce The major aim of the proposed work is to experimentally investigate the sustainable chemical production of nitrate and hydrogen peroxide using a gas-liquid non-thermal plasma reactor. This project also seeks to advance the understanding of the design principles of gas-liquid plasma reactors for chemical synthesis. The underlying theme of this proposal is that providing farmers a way to produce nitrogen fertilizer and hydrogen peroxide pesticide locally from sustainable resources, e.g., water, air, and solar energy, in a green chemical process, is an ideal approach to both reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer production and improving the productivity and profit margin of farmers. This project will advance sustainability in chemical reaction engineering through reduction in utilization of petroleum feedstocks for fertilizer and pesticide production. The proposed research aims to develop a detailed analysis of how non-thermal plasma reactors can be utilized to form nitrate and other species. In the plasma reactor the plasma discharge channels form on, and propagate along, the interface between a flowing gas and a flowing liquid. The reactor design principles to be developed include determination of how plasma properties interact with reactor characteristics and electrical conditions to facilitate synthetic chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides. The project has three specific aims directed to three major hypotheses. The first specific aim involves the analysis of the chemical reaction mechanisms, and the major hypothesis is that the primary reaction pathway for nitrate formation is through hydroxyl radical reactions. The second specific aim deals with the analysis of the plasma properties and power supply characteristics, and determination of how these properties interact and affect the chemical reaction pathways. The major hypothesis is that nitrate formation efficiency can be controlled by variation of the plasma temperature, electron density, and input power characteristics (pulse power, voltage, frequency). The third specific aim deals with the analysis and development of novel chemical reactor design features for improved performance. The major hypothesis is that modifications of the internal geometry of the gas-liquid plasma reactor (including channel size and nozzle diameter), which affect the surface area, gas and liquid residence times, and plasma contacting, can affect the formation of nitrate via effects on formation of key reactive species including hydroxyl radicals. Outreach activities through the Challenger Center of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering are proposed and will include presentations and learning modules about plasma applications and topics related to green chemical synthesis and agriculture.