A photocatalyst is described that is suitable for converting molecular nitrogen into ammonia. The photocatalyst comprises a layered base material comprising 1 to 100 layers, the layered base material being selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, molybdenum telluride, tungsten telluride, molybdenum selenide and tungsten selenide, a layered base material comprising 1 to 100 layers, the layered base material being selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, molybdenum telluride, tungsten telluride, molybdenum selenide and tungsten selenide, and 0.1-10.0% by weight, relative to the weight of the base material, of one or more Group VI, VII, VIII, IX or X transition metals. The photocatalyst can further comprise 0.1-50.0% by weight, relative to the weight of the base material, of one or more semiconductor materials having an average particle size of 0.5-50.0 nm. The photocatalyst exhibits high catalytic efficiency without the need for high temperature and pressure. Also described is a process for the preparation of the photocatalyst, as well as uses of the photocatalyst for converting molecular nitrogen into ammonia.

A method of nitrogen fixation uses a synthesis gas formed of several gaseous reactants for the synthesis of a synthesis product; and a process gas formed by admixing a gaseous catalyst with the synthesis gas, with the molar proportion of the catalyst in the process gas no more than 33%. The mixing ratio for the several gaseous reactants in molar proportions is determined by: determining all atom types in the synthesis product; calculating the reciprocal of the total effective cross section (RTECS) for the ionization and excitation of atoms by electron impacts on the respective atom type; multiplying the RTECS values by the number of atoms of the respective atom type in the synthesis product; determining the mixing ratio of the reactants, in that the number of atoms of the atom types in the reactants corresponds approximately to the ratio of the multiplied RTECS values for the corresponding atom types.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to processes for production of ammonia and hydrogen under low reaction severity using as reactants nitrogen and at least one C1-C4 hydrocarbon, e.g., methane. The disclosed processes are carried out using a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a metal selected from Group 7, Group 8, Group 9, Group 10, Group 11, and combinations thereof; wherein the metal is present in an amount from about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % based on the total weight of the heterogeneous catalyst; and a metal oxide support. The processes can be carried out at about ambient pressure and at a heterogeneous catalyst temperature of from about 50 C. to about 250 C. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A method of producing ammonia is provided. The method includes steps of oxidizing N.sub.2 gas in a plasma discharge reactor to form NO.sub.x where x is 1 or 2 and hydrogenating NO.sub.x in the presence of H.sub.2 on a catalyst to form ammonia. The method may also include steps of providing a plasma discharge reactor with a fixed or fluidized catalyst bed, introducing N.sub.2 gas, an oxidizing agent, and H.sub.2 gas into the plasma discharge reactor to produce ammonia, and collecting the ammonia produced.

A method for producing a reaction product employing a phases interface reaction that to efficiently bring about a reaction between a plasma-form substance (ozone, nitrogen plasma, etc.) and water or the like; a phases interface reactor; and a method for producing a secondary reaction product. The phases interface reactor that includes a reaction vessel, a plasma supply means for supplying a plasma-form substance into the reaction vessel, a water/aqueous solution supply means for supplying the reaction vessel, and an ultraviolet ray irradiation means for irradiating the plasma-form substance in the reaction vessel; said device causing the plasma-form substance and a solute contained in water or aqueous solution to react at the phases interface in a reaction vessel. Methods for producing a reaction product in which a phases interface reaction is provided, and also a secondary reaction product producing method for producing a secondary reaction product using the reaction product.

A process and system for electrolytic production ammonia. The process comprises feeding gaseous nitrogen to an electrolytic cell, where it comes in contact with a cathode electrode surface, wherein said surface has a catalyst surface comprising a nitride catalyst, said electrolytic cell comprising a proton donor, and running a current through said electrolytic cell, whereby nitrogen reacts with protons to form ammonia. The process and system of the invention uses an electrochemical cell with a cathode surface having a catalytic surface which is preferably charged with one or more of Vanadium nitride, Chromium nitride, Zirconium nitride, Niobium nitride, Iron nitride or Osmium nitride.

A system and method for making ammonia from plastic, whereby the method includes heating the plastic comprising hydrocarbons to gasify the hydrocarbons and generate gaseous hydrocarbons comprising hydrogen and carbon, heating the gaseous hydrocarbons to separate the hydrogen and the carbon and generate heated hydrogen, and combining the heated hydrogen with nitrogen to generate ammonia.