Silent Discharge Reactions in Aqueous Solutions. V. Nitrogen Fixation in a Heterogeneous System of Nitrogen and Water

Abstract

Nitrogen fixation by silent discharge on heterogeneous systems of nitrogen or air and water has been investigated, together with that on homogeneous systems of nitrogen or air. Moreover, oxidations of ferrous ions in acidic aqueous solutions of ferrous ions and in a ferrous-cupric ion system have been pursued in a nitrogen atmosphere. These experiments were conducted under flowing gas conditions. It has been found in the present study that: (1) in heterogeneous systems of nitrogen or air and water, the fixation yield is much larger in water than in gas; (2) in homogeneous systems of moist nitrogen or air, the yield is very small; (3) the ferric ion yield is very small negligible.Based on these findings, and in view of the actions of active nitrogen on radicals produced from water by slow electrons, the reaction mechanisms of nitrogen fixation have been suggested.