Provided is a novel production system that does not involve, or can minimize, the transport of liquid ammonia in the production of an organic compound or the production of a microorganism by microbial fermentation. A production system for an organic compound or a microorganism includes: an ammonia synthesis apparatus in which an ammonia-containing gas is synthesized by reaction of a source gas containing hydrogen and nitrogen in the presence of a supported ruthenium catalyst; and a culture apparatus that cultures a microorganism having organic compound productivity using ammonia originating from the ammonia-containing gas obtained by using the ammonia synthesis apparatus.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A catalyst for electrochemical ammonia synthesis incudes a carbon carrier composed of carbon; and 20-65 wt% of iron, copper and sulfur, based on weight of the carbon, supported in the carbon carrier. The catalyst may be coated on an electrode selected from the group consisting of carbon paper, carbon cloth, carbon felt, fluorine- doped tin oxide (FTO) conducting glass, and combinations thereof by spray coating, screen printing or ink jet printing. The catalyst has an ammonia synthesis activity up to several times to several tens of times of the activity of the existing single metal or metal oxide catalysts. Thus, when using the catalyst, it is possible to provide a method for electrochemical ammonia synthesis having an improved ammonia production yield and rate.

A composite having a composition expressed by A.sub.nX.sub.yM.sub.m wherein, A represents a lanthanoid that is in a trivalent state at least partially or entirely, X represents an element that is a Group-2 element in the periodic table selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A, M represents an element that is a Group-1 element in the periodic table, a Group-2 element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A and X, n satisfies 0<n<1, y satisfies 0<y<1, m satisfies 0m<1, and n+y+m=1.

A chemical reactor that combines a pressure vessel, heat exchanger, heater, and catalyst holder into a single device is disclosed. The chemical reactor described herein reduces the cost of the reactor and reduces its parasitic heat losses. The disclosed chemical reactor is suitable for use in ammonia (NH.sub.3) synthesis.

Provided is a novel production system that does not involve, or can minimize, the transport of liquid ammonia in the production of an organic compound or the production of a microorganism by microbial fermentation. A production system for an organic compound or a microorganism includes: an ammonia synthesis apparatus in which an ammonia-containing gas is synthesized by reaction of a source gas containing hydrogen and nitrogen in the presence of a supported ruthenium catalyst; and a culture apparatus that cultures a microorganism having organic compound productivity using ammonia originating from the ammonia-containing gas obtained by using the ammonia synthesis apparatus.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an apparatus and process for producing ammonia. The apparatus includes a reactor having (i) an inlet to receive an inlet gas comprising nitrogen and hydrogen, (ii) a catalyst and an absorbent disposed within an internal volume of the reactor, the catalyst configured to convert the nitrogen and hydrogen to a reaction mixture including ammonia, unreacted nitrogen, and unreacted hydrogen, the absorbent configured to selectively absorb a portion of the ammonia in the reactor during formation of the reaction mixture, and (iii) an outlet to discharge the reaction mixture from the reactor.

An electride, which is more stable and can be more easily obtained, is provided or is made available, and as a result, a catalyst particularly useful for chemical synthesis, in which the electride is particularly used, is provided. A transition metal-supporting intermetallic compound having a transition metal supported on an intermetallic compound represented by the following formula (1): A.sub.5X.sub.3 . . . (1) wherein A represents a rare earth element, and X represents Si or Ge.

In a novel method for start-up heating of a converting re-actor in an ammonia synthesis plant, the conventional use of a gas fired heater is replaced by inductive heating. The inductive heating is obtained using an alternating high frequency current, which is passed through an inductive coil located inside the reactor, especially mounted inside a pressure shell. The method makes it possible to run reactions at high temperatures and high pressures in a very efficient way.

Catalysts for NH.sub.3 cracking and/or synthesis generally include barium calcium aluminum oxide compounds decorated with ruthenium, cobalt, or both. These catalysts can be bonded to a metal structure, which improves thermal conductivity and gas conductance.

The present invention provides a supported metal catalyst, a method for synthesizing ammonia using said catalyst, and a supported metal material in which a transition metal is supported on a support, wherein the support is a metal hydride represented by general formula (1): XH.sub.n . . . (1); and in general formula (1), X represents at least one selected from the group consisting of atoms from Groups 2 and 3, and lanthanoid atoms, and n is in a range of 2<n<3.