Air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health in the UK, and the fourth greatest threat to public health after cancer, heart disease and obesity. Unlike other air pollutants, ammonia emissions in the UK have been rising since 2013, with significant implications for biodiversity, human and livestock health, and environment. Once ammonia mixes with other gases in the atmosphere, it can form particulate matter (PM) with major health concerns to the lungs and heart.

Agriculture emitted around 244900 tonnes ammonia in 2017. The government`s aim is to reduce emissions of ammonia against the 2005 baseline by 16% by 2030 and to reduce PM emissions by 46% by 2030.

This multidisciplinary bi-university project proposal aims to develop an innovative and versatile electrochemical fuel cell for ammonia electro-oxidation (AEO) that benefits eliminating ammonia as well as generating electricity. The fabricated fuel cell will be tested electrochemically, microscopically and spectroscopically and its efficiency will be improved using simulating models. The cell will be tested in a real farm for ammonia mitigation. This novel device employs state-of-the-art synthesized catalyst earth-abundant material developed in this project to produce a fuel cell that can aid in the delivery of Net Zero Agriculture in the livestock sector.