Student project inspires global impact on food security

The Institute for Transformative Technologies (ITT), in collaboration with BVR Engineered Systems in India, has developed the world’s first small-scale system that produces farmer-ready green nitrogen fertiliser. NitroStation™ converts ammonia into Nitrolyzer™, a shelf-stable, farmer-ready, liquid fertiliser containing 17% nitrogen. Integrating a modular green ammonia unit, it only requires water to be added and uses just air for nitrogen, water for hydrogen, and sunlight for solar power.  

While sponsoring the fourth-year students’ Chemical Engineering Design Project, ITT set a brief to produce a conceptual design including process and equipment selection, flow and control diagrams, design methodology, economic and environmental assessment. 

Students were tasked with developing a small-scale plant for manufacturing ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) solution, for use in decentralised renewable fertilisation systems. Inputs to the plant would be renewable electricity, water, and air and the production scale required would be approximately 4-5 metric tons N per day.  The first unit has been set up in Kenya for local production of this low-cost, green fertiliser to support farmers. Sustainable food security in Sub-Saharan Africa needs locally produced, affordable, carbon-free nitrogen fertiliser. Over 90% of fertiliser used in the region is imported and is too expensive for most smallholder farmers, and fewer than 10% of farmers have reliable access to fertiliser. They are further impacted by issues with global energy markets and supply chains. Locally produced green fertiliser could support food security through access and affordability, along with improving livelihoods and income for farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Roger Sathre, Chief Scientist at The Institute for Transformative Technologies said: 

Working with the student teams was very useful and thought-provoking, because each team developed a unique solution to the challenge, so we were offered a range of ideas to consider and move forward with.

Professor Prashant Valluri, Director of Chemical Engineering, commented: 

The Chemical Engineering Design project is a 40-credit module that is required learning for a degree accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers. Every year, the School of Engineering invites a company to be a sponsor, where they propose a design project and set a design brief. Sponsors gain access to innovative research by academic staff and solutions developed by students who bring new perspectives and supports recruitment of young people at the start of their careers. Students gain stronger industry connections, an enhanced understanding of the sector and its challenges, and a degree that is relevant to current industry needs.