A research team rooted in DTU is behind an invention which fights air pollution. The researchers have now been nominated for the annual European Inventor Award 2016, for having developed compact metal salts for storing solid-state ammonia.
In 2005, a team of researchers from DTU invented a method for storing ammonia in pellet form. In addition to being an indirect hydrogen carrier, the invention proved extremely well-suited to clean the harmful exhaust fumes from diesel cars and resulted in the spin-out companyAmminex.
Now Amminex is nominated for the 11th edition of the annual European Inventor Award (EPO) 2016 in the category of ‘small and medium-sized enterprises’. The prize is awarded by the European Patent Office and will be announced at a ceremony in Lisbon on 9 June 2016.
An important development
“The invention is an important development in order to reduce pollution from diesel vehicles, and is promising in relation to other eco-friendly applications,” said EPO President Benoît Battistelli at the appointment of the finalists for the European Inventor Award 2016.
“At a time when a lot of attention is devoted to reducing emissions, this team has demonstrated that humanity can overcome some of its greatest challenges through innovation.”
Behind Amminex is Tue Johannessen, Ulrich Quaade, Claus Hviid Christensen, and Jens Kehlet Nørskov. Their only problem was to find a solution to using the toxic gas ammonia for cleaning exhaust gas from diesel engines.
Compact and secure storage
Vehicle transport of ammonia poses problems. First and foremost, its boiling point is -33°C. And due to its volatility and toxicity, it must be stored in heavy high-pressure tanks, and even pressurized and in liquid form it would require very expensive and complicated solutions.
But as the Danish research team has found out, compact and safe solid-state storage of ammonia is the perfect solution—a solution which creates new possibilities for a number of beneficial, eco-friendly applications.
The advantage of solid-state storage of ammonia is that ammonia is then no longer classified as hazardous goods. It can easily be installed and used on vehicles. Tue Johannessen, Technical Director of Amminex, says:
“The technology not only results in a very low level of nitrogen oxides in the vehicle exhaust, but it also allows the engine to run in its optimum operating range, resulting in lower carbon emissions.”
For further information, please contact Tue Johannessen, Technical Director of Amminex, tj@amminex.com