Artificial nitrogenase enzymes for ambient-condition, decentralized ammonia production

Background

Ammonia synthesis is foundational to global agriculture and chemical manufacturing, providing the primary source of fixed nitrogen for fertilizers, polymers, and pharmaceuticals. Traditional ammonia production through the Haber-Bosch process, however, operates under extreme conditions—temperatures exceeding 400°C and pressures over 150 bars—requiring massive energy inputs and fossil fuel-derived hydrogen. This results in significant carbon emissions, account­ing for nearly 2% of global CO₂ output, and creates centralized infrastructures that limit access in remote or resource-limited regions. As global demand for sustainable food production and carbon neutrality increases, there is an urgent need for alternative ammonia production methods that function under mild, decentralized conditions.

Current alternatives to Haber-Bosch—including electrochemical reduction and biological nitrogen fixation—face formidable technical challenges. Electro­chemical approaches suffer from low faradaic efficiencies and require rare catalysts, while biological nitrogenases are oxygen-sensitive, slow, and depen­dent on complex, difficult-to-stabilize cofactors. Heterogeneous catalysis typically still demands elevated temperatures or specialized equipment, preventing truly accessible, scalable solutions.

Technology overview

This technology introduces Artificial Nitrogenase (ArtN₂ase) enzymes—computationally engineered proteins capable of catalyzing the six-electron reduction of dinitrogen (N₂) to ammonia (NH₃) under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. Built on either native protein scaffolds or de novo AI-designed structures, these enzymes integrate either the natural FeMoco cofactor or synthetic iron-sulfur clusters into custom-tailored metal-binding pockets, with optimized electron-transfer pathways that replicate the catalytic cycle of natural nitrogenase.

ArtN₂ase bypasses the need for hydrogen gas, high temperatures, or high pressures and eliminates dependence on substrate surrogates or harsh reaction conditions. The modular design supports swapping of cofactors and repurposing the platform for nitrogen transfer or hydrogenation reactions beyond ammonia synthesis. Initial in vitro demonstrations have shown catalytic activity, with ongoing work focused on improving turnover frequency, cofactor stability, and broadening functional capabilities.

Benefits

  • Catalyzes ammonia synthesis at room temperature and atmospheric pressure
  • Eliminates need for fossil-derived hydrogen and extreme industrial conditions
  • Reduces carbon emissions associated with nitrogen fixation processes
  • Modular design allows adaptation to other nitrogen-transfer and hydrogenation reactions
  • Combines computational protein engineering with synthetic cofactor chemistry for enhanced control and versatility

Commercial applications

  • Decentralized and sustainable ammonia production
  • Fertilizer manufacturing for resource-limited or off-grid regions
  • Green hydrogenation and nitrogen-transfer catalysis
  • Biomanufacturing platforms for carbon-neutral chemical synthesis
  • Synthetic biology and advanced protein engineering research

Opportunity

  • Replaces the carbon-intensive Haber-Bosch process with a scalable, sustainable biocatalytic platform
  • Unlocks new routes to ammonia and nitrogen-containing compounds without reliance on fossil fuels
  • Available for licensing to partners in agriculture, energy, industrial chemistry, and synthetic biology sectors

Intellectual property

  • Provisional patent filed