I read with interest the developments around using Ammonia as an alternative, cleaner, easier to transport and easier to store energy source. This reminds me of the movie Mad Max, where ammonia from pig’s urine was used as their fuel source.
Since 2004, the Iowa Energy Center has brought together researchers, investors and government officials to set the course for ammonia energy to provide relief from the U.S. reliance on imported petroleum.
Ammonia is molecular compound made up of Nitrogen and Hydrogen, and exists in a trigonal pyramidal shape (as shown in picture). Its chemical formula is NH3. Combined with Carbon Dioxide, it is what we know as urea (the main component in urine). Although Ammonia is found in trace quantities in the atmosphere and ammonium salts are also found in small quantities in rainwater, it is one of the most highly produced inorganic chemicals in the world. There are dozens of chemical plants worldwide which produces ammonia and in 2004, 109 million metric tonnes were produced (28.4% of these were from China alone, 8.2% from the U.S.). However, majority of these ammonia produced is used for fertilizing agricultural crops.
