FERTILIZERS

FERTILIZERS

Green Hydrogen for Fertilizer Production

Global food security depends on nitrogen fertilizers, which depend on ammonia, which depends on hydrogen. Decarbonizing this chain starts with efficient electrolysis using IONZERA membranes.

Membrane Cross-Section

PSU-TiO₂-GO
OH⁻OH⁻OH⁻PSU MatrixTiO₂GO SheetsPores350-410 μm

Decarbonize the Food Chain

Fertilizer production accounts for approximately 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. Replacing grey hydrogen with green electrolytic H2 directly addresses this carbon-intensive step in the food supply chain.

Reduce Feedstock Cost

Hydrogen represents the largest variable cost in ammonia-based fertilizer production. IONZERA's 3x lower membrane resistance reduces this dominant input cost.

Scale for Agricultural Demand

Global fertilizer production requires hundreds of millions of tonnes of ammonia. IONZERA's scalable, mesh-free manufacturing supports the massive membrane volumes needed for this transition.

The Fertilizer-Hydrogen Nexus

Nitrogen fertilizers, including urea, ammonium nitrate, and diammonium phosphate, are essential for feeding the world's population. All nitrogen fertilizers begin with ammonia synthesis via the Haber-Bosch process, which combines hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen at high temperature and pressure. Globally, fertilizer production consumes approximately 35 million tonnes of hydrogen per year, nearly all from natural gas reforming.

The transition to green fertilizers requires replacing this fossil hydrogen with electrolytic hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. The efficiency of the electrolysis step, determined in large part by the separator membrane, directly impacts whether green fertilizers can achieve cost parity with conventional production.

From Green H2 to Green Urea

Urea (CO(NH2)2) is the world's most widely used nitrogen fertilizer. Its production requires ammonia and carbon dioxide. In an elegantly circular process, green ammonia production via electrolysis produces oxygen as a byproduct, which can be used for oxy-combustion or other industrial purposes:

IONZERA's low resistance reduces the electricity cost per kg of H2, the dominant production cost for green ammonia and downstream urea
Consistent membrane performance ensures steady hydrogen supply to continuous ammonia synthesis loops
The thin 350-410 um profile and mesh-free design reduce membrane material cost per unit of electrolyser capacity
India-based manufacturing from G-Hexa supports the country's massive fertilizer industry, the world's second-largest consumer

Nanocomposite Structure

PSU-TiO₂-GO
OH⁻OH⁻OH⁻PSU MatrixTiO₂GO SheetsPores350-410 μm
3x

Lower Resistance

20%

Thinner Profile

India's Fertilizer Industry Opportunity

India imports significant volumes of urea and ammonia for its agricultural sector. The National Green Hydrogen Mission explicitly targets fertilizer production as a key sector for green hydrogen adoption. IONZERA, manufactured by G-Hexa in Bengaluru, positions Indian fertilizer producers to access locally produced, high-performance membranes for the green fertilizer transition, supporting both energy security and agricultural self-sufficiency.

Area Resistance

3x LOWER
Area Specific Resistance ComparisonIONZERA0.09-0.1 Ω·cm²Zirfon0.30 Ω·cm²00.10.20.3 Ω·cm²~3x Lower

Thickness

20% THINNER
Membrane Thickness ComparisonIONZERA350-410 μmZirfon500 μm500 μm scale20-30%thinnerThinner membrane = More compact stacks= Higher power density
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