Indonesian Researcher Explores Greener Path to Fertilizer Production

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Deni Swantomo, a lecturer and researcher at the Indonesian Nuclear Technology Polytechnic (Poltek Nuklir) under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is pioneering an environmentally friendly approach to nitrogen fertilizer production.

Seeking cleaner alternatives for agriculture, Deni and his team are developing a method that uses Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma technology to generate ammonia directly from water and nitrogen gas.

“Unlike conventional methods, this system can operate at room temperature and pressure, without requiring extreme conditions or additional hydrogen gas,” he said on Friday, April 10, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Conventional global ammonia production largely relies on the Haber-Bosch process, which requires high temperature and pressure, consumes large amounts of energy, and contributes significantly to carbon emissions.

Deni explained that in the new system, nitrogen gas energized by electricity forms plasma that produces reactive nitrogen species. This plasma interacts with water, splitting it into hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals, which then combine with nitrogen to form ammonia.

The study evaluated several operational parameters, including nitrogen flow rate, electrical power, electrode distance, type of water, and pH level.

Optimal results were achieved at a nitrogen flow rate of 1.4 liters per minute, 75 watts of power, a 1-centimeter electrode gap, and deionized water with a pH of around 5, without ultraviolet (UV) light, producing ammonia concentrations of 19.7 parts per million (ppm) within 30 minutes.

Deni noted that deionized water produced higher ammonia output compared to tap water, as minerals in tap water can trigger side reactions that hinder ammonia formation. Meanwhile, UV exposure reduced output by accelerating ammonia decomposition.

“Using high-purity water yields more optimal results. In contrast, exposure to UV light tends to reduce ammonia concentration, as it triggers decomposition,” he added.

The findings suggest that a simple DBD plasma system could serve as an alternative method for ammonia production without catalysts, complex pretreatment, or additional hydrogen gas.

However, Deni emphasized that the current scale remains limited to laboratory conditions and cannot yet match industrial production capacity.

Looking ahead, the technology is expected to be further developed as a cleaner and more efficient solution for ammonia production, supporting sustainable agriculture and global food security.

“This approach opens up opportunities for developing more sustainable and energy-efficient fertilizer production technologies. The system is relatively simple, does not require expensive catalysts, and can operate under normal conditions,” he concluded. ***