Researchers at South Korea’s Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology have unveiled a pioneering technology that nearly eliminates nitrous oxide emissions at room temperature.
The innovation marks a significant leap in global efforts to curb greenhouse gases and move toward carbon neutrality.
Mechanochemical Innovation Boosts Energy Efficiency
The team, led by Professor Jong-Beom Baek of UNIST’s School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, developed the world’s first mechanochemical process to decompose nitrous oxide using mechanical impacts and friction rather than heat.
Their findings were published online in Advanced Materials on Sept. 26, with print publication forthcoming.
Unlike conventional thermal catalysts, which require temperatures above 445 degrees Celsius, the UNIST process operates effectively near ambient temperatures.
The method leverages a nickel oxide catalyst inside a reaction vessel known as a ball mill.
As the vessel vibrates, millimeter-sized beads create high-energy collisions and friction. This action forms ultra-oxidized states on the NiO surface, accelerating the breakdown of nitrous oxide.
Record Performance at Mild Temperatures
Experimental results showed that the process decomposes nearly 100 percent of N₂O at just 42°C, achieving a 99.98 percent conversion rate and a reaction rate of 1,761 milliliters per hour.
By comparison, traditional thermochemical methods achieve only 49.16 percent conversion at 445°C with a reaction rate of 294.9 mL per hour. This translates into over six times greater energy efficiency.
Transitioning to this low-temperature method could dramatically cut the energy costs of industrial N₂O abatement.
Proven Viability in Real-World Conditions
The research team also tested the system under vehicle diesel engine conditions and found it removed 95 to 100 percent of N₂O emissions. In larger-scale trials mimicking industrial exhaust treatment, it maintained a conversion rate of about 97.6 percent even in the presence of oxygen and moisture.
Moreover, economic analysis indicated that the mechanochemical process is eight times more cost-effective than current thermal catalytic systems.
Professor Baek said the breakthrough comes at a critical time, as the European Union’s Euro 7 emission standards are set to tighten restrictions on nitrous oxide output.
“With stricter regulations ahead, this technology offers a timely and effective solution for industries producing or burning N₂O,” Baek said. “It can significantly cut emissions from diesel engines, nitric and adipic acid manufacturing, and ammonia-powered ship engines, contributing to carbon neutrality goals.”
Step Forward in Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
Nitrous oxide, with a Global Warming Potential about 310 times greater than carbon dioxide, is a leading contributor to both climate change and ozone depletion. Current high-temperature abatement methods remain costly and energy-intensive.
The UNIST team’s innovation shows that mechanochemistry, once limited to materials science, may hold the key to low-energy, greenhouse gas mitigation at scale.
