Turning Waste into Value: A Smart Way to Make Green Fuel and Chemicals

Scientists have come up with a clever way to turn waste into useful things. They made a special system that can change waste materials into green fuel and chemicals. This system uses a special mix of copper and nickel as a catalyst to make these changes happen. At one end of the system, called the cathode, the catalyst helps turn nitrate into ammonia. This process is very efficient, with a high yield rate and a faradaic efficiency of over 95%. The catalyst works by first converting nitrate into nitrite, then using water to help remove oxygen and add hydrogen to create ammonia. At the other end, called the anode, the same catalyst helps upgrade biomass derivatives into formate. This process is also very efficient, with a faradaic efficiency of over 90%, and it can work steadily for a long time.The whole system can work together to make both ammonia and formate at the same time. This is a big deal because it shows that we can design systems to turn waste into valuable products. It's a step towards a more sustainable future, where we can make the most of our resources. But it's not just about the products. This system also shows how important it is to design catalysts that can work well in different conditions. The copper in the catalyst helps the nickel work better, making the whole process more efficient. This is a great example of how teamwork makes the dream work, even in the world of chemistry.