The Pitch:

Can ammonia save the earth?

Huge amounts of ammonia are continuously released into the atmosphere.

To harvest this and burn it instead of fossile hydrocarbons, can be a way to

reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It might be the perfect combination of hydrogen and nitrogen economy:

4NH3 + 3O2 = 2N2 + 6H2O (g) energy released = –1267.20 kJ/mol

(Wikipedia)

To aminate hydrocarbons, e.g. diesel oil, is relatively simple,

and can be achieved by means of air efflux from decaying organic matter.

One can also use consentrated ammonia; I did so and got a solution

which burned intensely.

-CH2- + NH3 + 1/2 O2 = -CH-NH2- + H2O (or H2)

It should be possible to accumulate a "fishbone" of amines in long-chain hydrocarbons.

This "explosive" could resemble nitroglyserine in dynamite or the toxic but clean-burning rocket fuel hydrazine (NH2-NH2).

Or for worse: the dangerously unstable diesel bomb (diesel + ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3) used by terrorists.

(Smashing of carbon nuclei in a fission reaction giving helium as waste product may be a possibility)









During combustion, the diesel component will ignite the ammonia, and ensure an altered, hotter, more pressured, more complete combustion which is more efficient in regard to CO2 and NOx emissions.

When N2 is made, much energy is yielded, due to the strong triple bond formed,

and N2 is harmless to the atmosphere.

This stuff, this idea, remains to be tested, and eventually engines have to be adjusted.

It is urgent, because to stop the now polluting engines seems impossible.

-Sincerely,

Ottar Stensvold,

Molde

Norway

http://ottarstensvold.spaces.live.com

ottarstensvold@hotmail.com

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