Cheap production of nitrogen pesticides and fertilizers through hydrolysis of plant protein for rural use - Botany and Agriculture Science Fair Project

Project Information

Title: Cheap production of nitrogen pesticides and fertilizers through hydrolysis of plant protein for rural use

Subject: Botany and Agriculture

Subcategory: Fertilizers & Pesticides

Grade level: High School - Grades 9-12

Academic Level: Ordinary

Project Type: Building / Engineering

Cost: Low

Awards: The National Geographic Explorer Award

Affiliation: Google Science Fair

Year: 2016

Materials: Aluminium charcoal chimney, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), beaker, measuring scale, syphon pump, lentils

Techniques: Hydrolysis

Concepts:

Description: In this research was developed a cheap system that costs $15 to produce substantial amounts of aqua ammonia (NH4OH) per procedure, through hydrolysis, that can be stored and built up to a large amount during a month before planting season when many leaves fall. Research question: Can a closed system that uses better use of non-renewable fuels centered around on-site production, storage and usage of ammonia gas using plant protein in 3 steps be used to provide nitrogen fertilizers and a green pesticide to a low income family in rural Zambia that has no electricity?

Link: www.googlesciencefair.com...

Background

Nitrogen Fertilizers Production

Nitrogen fertilizers are made from ammonia (NH3), which is sometimes injected into the ground directly. The ammonia is produced by the Haber-Bosch process. In this energy-intensive process, natural gas (CH4) usually supplies the hydrogen, and the nitrogen (N2) is derived from the air. This ammonia is used as a feedstock for all other nitrogen fertilizers, such as anhydrous ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and urea (CO(NH2)2).

Deposits of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) (Chilean saltpeter) are also found in the Atacama desert in Chile and was one of the original (1830) nitrogen-rich fertilizers used. It is still mined for fertilizer.

Source: Wikipedia (All text is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License)

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