Amines CSIC and the University of Zaragoza have developed a new, more economic, more sustainable and more effective methodology that allows obtaining nitrogen molecules using ammonia as raw material.
Industrial partners are being sought to collaborate through a patent licence agreement.
Sustainable method to obtain amines using ammonia as raw material Nitrogen is an essential component in molecules of industrial interest, be they with biological activity (drugs, aromas and fragrances, pesticides, cosmetics, ...) or, without biological activity (fertilizers, detergents, dyes, explosives, resins, solvents, ...). Ammonia is, if N2 is excluded, the simplest molecule that can serve to introduce nitrogen functions into organic compounds. Every year more than one hundred million tons of ammonia are synthesized in the world, which is the most abundant and cheapest source of nitrogen. Currently, amines are industrially prepared through the reaction of ammonia with organic halides or alcohols. Neither route is environmentally sustainable, this is due to the fact that they present high energy costs and, in many cases, generation of halogenated by-products. For these reasons, it is highly desirable to have new sustainable methods that allow obtaining nitrogen molecules using ammonia as a raw material.
Selective NH3 Activación N H3 N H3 N H2 R N H3 N H3 N HR2 N H3 N HR2 How to fish NH3 in the presence of other amines
Main innovations and advantages
· Much more environmentally sustainable process compared to the current industrial synthesis of nitrogen compounds.
· Much more economical method compared to the high energy cost (high temperatures and pressures) that the use of ammonia in industrial synthesis represents today.
· The present methodology avoids the formation of undesired byproducts which are currently present due to the harsh reaction conditions.
· Much more effective catalysts compared to current metallic catalysts that are insufficient active or inactive.
· The presented method does not produce overamination reactions with the consequent uncontrolled formation of secondary and tertiary amines.
· Furthermore, these catalysts can carry out alcohol dehydrogenation, carbon monoxide activation and phenylacetylene functionalization reactions.
The Spanish National Research Council (in Spanish 'Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)') is a government agency for basic and applied scientific research.
It is the largest public research organization in Spain, with presence in all the Autonomous Communities through 126 centers and 145 associated units.
Create your free account to connect with CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and thousands of other innovative organizations and professionals worldwide
Send a request for information
to CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Technology Offers on Agri-Food are directly posted
and managed by its members as well as evaluation of requests for information. Agri-Food is the trusted open innovation and science network aimed at directly connect industry needs with professionals online.
Need help requesting additional information or have questions regarding this Technology Offer?
Contact Agri-Food support
