Memorial University of Newfoundland

Purpose

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide release can be offset by capture and conversion of carbon dioxide to urea, the most important nitrogenous fertilizer. However, industrial synthesis of urea from carbon dioxide and ammonia is not effective for carbon dioxide reduction because it requires a large input of energy. This project aims to develop catalysts that will produce urea more efficiently from carbon dioxide and nitrogen in an electrochemical membrane reactor. Catalysts based on metals and oxides will be screened in a multi-cathode cell to establish relationships between their activities for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and the determine the optimum combinations and conditions for formation of urea. The work is expected to establish the feasibility of this process, and provide knowledge that will guide the development of a membrane reactor