The chemistry of the future could be born from the earth itself. In a laboratory of the MIT, a team of scientists has developed a process that uses the subsoil as a natural chemical reactor. This innovation, now at the center of the startup's project Addis Energy, aims to produce ammonia in a cleaner and more sustainable way, changing the fertilizer industry forever.
The Ammonia Problem: Necessary, but Costly
Ammonia is the basis of modern agriculture. Used for the production of fertilizers, is an indispensable substance to ensure global food security. However, the traditional method of production, known as Haber-Bosch process, is far from sustainable. It requires enormous amounts of energy, uses fossil fuels and contributes more than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“The earth can be an excellent chemical reactor” said Iwnitim Abbot, MIT professor and author of the research behind the project (I link it to you here). The idea of exploiting natural resources to produce ammonia, rather than resorting to energy-intensive industrial processes, could be the solution to reduce the climate impact of chemistry.
How does the natural chemical reactor work?
The concept of using the subsoil as a chemical reactor is based on natural conditions already present: pressure, heat and the mineral composition of rocks. The process uses minerals rich in iron, nitrates (a source of nitrogen) and water (a source of hydrogen), accelerating chemical reactions with the help of a catalyst.
In the laboratory, scientists have demonstrated that these reactions can also occur at relatively low temperatures (130 °C) and moderate pressures, achievable with existing drilling technologies. If scaled up, a single well could produce up to 40.000 tons of ammonia per day, according to initial estimates.
Addis Energy: A Team to Scale Innovation
To commercialize this technology, Abate co-founded Addis Energy, a startup that has already raised $4,25 million in pre-seed funding. Co-founders include energy experts such as Michael Alexander, with a background in the oil industry, and MIT professor Yet-Ming Chiang, known for its technological innovations. Alexander emphasizes that much of the necessary technology is already used in the oil industry: drilling, pumping, and fluid management. “There is innovative chemistry wrapped up in a familiar technology package,” says Addis Energy CEO.
The ammonia produced by this method It could initially cost around $0,55 per kilogram, more than the current $0,40/kg produced with fossil fuels. However, the process is less expensive than other sustainable options, and future optimizations could reduce costs by up to $0,20/kg, making it competitive and accessible.
Secondo Karthish Manthiram, professor at Caltech, this technology represents an important step towards sustainable chemical production: “It’s the kind of thinking needed to accelerate the path to sustainability.”
Natural Chemical Reactor: Towards Field Testing
Despite promising results in the lab, scaling up to the field presents many challenges. One of the main issues is the durability of the rocks used in the process. When ammonia is produced, the surfaces of the minerals oxidize, reducing their ability to continue reacting. “Our challenge is to control the thickness of the oxidized layer to keep the chemical reactions going,” Abate explains. Other obstacles include finding suitable geological sites and ensuring safe operations, given that ammonia is toxic and difficult to transport.
Addis Energy is planning to test the process in real sites, with the aim of validating its effectiveness and improving scalability. In the meantime, researchers will continue to explore the atomic dynamics underlying chemical reactions, to optimize every aspect. As Abate points out: “Lab research is just the first step. The real test will be to see if we can make it work in the real world.”
If this idea catches on, it could transform not only the way we make ammonia, but the entire approach to industrial chemistry. Perhaps the Earth's core will indeed become the chemical reactor of the future.
