Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ Nanocatalyst for Green ammonia Production by Using Magnetic Induction Method

Authors: Noorhana Yahya, Poppy Puspitasari

Abstract: Ammonia production is an energy-intensive industry as it requires high temperature (400-500°C) and also high pressure (150-300bar). This motivates research to finding greener and lower energy process for ammonia synthesis. In this work, Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ (YIG) nanocatalyst that has large surface area was synthesized. Ammonia was produced at ambient environment by using the Magnetic Induction Method (MIM).The Y₃Fe₅O₁₂nanoparticles were prepared using the sol-gel technique and were sintered at three different temperatures (950-1150°C). The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns show the major peak at [420] plane with the value of a=b=c=12.38Åwhich indicates a cubic structure. The magnetic saturation (Ms) value of the samples is 16.6emu/g. The reducibility of the particles was described from the Temperature Program Reduction (TPR) profile at 806°C where all the oxide phase is changed to metallic phase. Ammonia yield of 242.56μmole/h.g-cat was successfully obtained at 0°C reaction temperature. It was observed that ammonia synthesis that was conducted at 0°C temperature resulted in higher ammonia yield indicating a better spin alignment and hence improved catalytic activities.

Direct link: http://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.21.131