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When most people think of nitrous oxide (N
2
O), they think of a trip to the dentist. However, N
2
O is the third-most emitted greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and methane, and it causes severe damage to the ozone layer. Although little attention has been paid to the gas’s impact, a new article in
Chemical & Engineering News
, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, explores how the chemical industry is working to abate its emissions.
Approximately two-thirds of N
2
O emissions arise from agricultural practices, when manure and fertilizer break down and emit the gas. Little has been done to mitigate this, with lobbyists and policymakers citing the difficulty of capturing agricultural emissions. In contrast, the second largest source of N
2
O is the chemical industry, where experts say emissions can be cut dramatically and inexpensively. Companies producing the raw materials for nylon began working to abate N
2
O emissions decades ago, but the current demand for global climate action has put pressure on other chemical firms to do the same.
In order to curb N
2
O emissions, chemical plants have several efficient and cost-effective technologies at their disposal. One process uses catalysts to break down the gas into benign nitrogen and oxygen, reducing emissions up to 90%. A more expensive method involves installing a thermal reduction unit at the end of a plant’s exhaust pipes, destroying up to 99% of N
2
O by incinerating it. In addition, some companies are working to capture N
2
O emissions for use in other applications such as manufacturing flat screen displays. Although firms in the nylon industry have made progress, the manufacturing of nitric acid — a primary ingredient in fertilizer –remains the primary creator of N
2
O in the chemical sector. This has spurred climate action groups and governments to advocate for increased regulations and emissions taxes that would force the hand of manufacturers to produce chemicals in a more climate-friendly way.
###
The article, “Nitrous oxide packs a dangerous climate punch, but much goes unabated,” is freely available
here
.
For more of the latest research news, register for our upcoming meeting,
ACS Fall 2021
. Journalists and public information officers are encouraged to apply for complimentary press registration by emailing us at
[email protected]
.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical
Chemical & Engineering News
. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
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This part of information is sourced from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/acs-cpc071421.php
