Heterogeneous Catalysis of Ammonia Synthesis at Room Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure

Abstract

The dream of many chemists , the nonenzymatic catalytic synthesis of ammonia from N 2 and H 2 at room temperature and normal pressure, has been achieved with a potassium‐containing ruthenium/active carbon system. Even though the activity of the catalyst is small (0.011 mmol NH 3 per day and gram of catalyst), this discovery represents a beginning. In comparison, nitrogenase from Klebsiella pneumoniae produces 0.25 mmol NH 3 per minute and gram of protein.