Description
Air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health in the UK, and the fourth greatest threat to public health. Ammonia emissions in the UK is rising since 2013, with significant implications for biodiversity, human and livestock health, and environment. The agricultural sector emitted around 302,000 tonnes ammonia in 2016. The government announced its aim in DEFRA2018 to reduce ammonia emissions against the 2005 baseline 16% by 2030 and to reduce particulate matter(PM) emissions (causes asthma and lung cancer) by 46% by 2030. Considering that the elevated level of NH3 and PMs have negative impact on animal health and production as well as on human health and environment. we propose to develop a small and portable direct ammonia alkaline fuel cell (DAAFC), partially from the farm waste, to oxidise farm-emitted ammonia directly and locally before releasing and causes further damages. This project is a collaboration between four academic members of SHU (for catalyst synthesis, characterization, testing/validation and its electrical/electronic system), one from NoU(design and testing DAAFC) and another from NU(Testing DAAFC in an animal shed) to address this national and international challenge. MB with more than 15 years experiences in synthesis of catalysts and 18 publication and a patent in this field will prepare the catalysts which will be characterised using MERI`s facilities by IMD and FK. IMD, an author with >300 papers and recipient of several national/international grants will characterise the nanomaterials. XTL an expert in fuel cell(FC) who published >17 papers in this field within last four years, will design, manufacture and test the catalysts in a DAAFC with RS an expert in electronic engineer with>150 papers. ASC, a Cambridge University graduate with>100 papers in the field of Animal Science and the Environment, will test DAAFC in an animal shed. This short project will enable us to produce data for publishing in high-rank international jounals, filing IPs as well as providing proof of concept for applying for larger grant such as New Investigator Awards (NIA) and the ones from NERC and EPSRC. Due to the economical impact of the final product, MB will apply for Innovate UK. This project explicitly addresses two platforms of healthy lives and future economies; • Tackling two air pollutants, ammonia and PM, consequently improving livestock and public health. • Economical impact via reducing health cost on NHS, commercializing a portable reducing ammonia emission system which Produces local electricity for farms specially in remote area. • Setting up a multi-application FC that will be developed and employed for a wider range of applications including waste water treatment, ammonia sensor and ammonia FC for automative industry as well as applying for larger grant applications, wider collaboration at SHU in next 3-5 years and MB`s establishing her group. And can fulfil multiple CKIP goals; • Great effect on REF by producing IPs, publications, conference presentations and most importantly a step forward in commercialising a new instrument for improving air-quality which has real social, economic and cultural impact. • Enrich student`s learning/experience by involving them via their projects.| Period | 1 Feb 2019 |
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| Held at | Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom |
| Degree of Recognition | National |