Cost-effective abatement of industrial sources of nitrous oxide with methane for urgent climate mitigation

Abatement of industrial emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas and stratospheric ozone-depleting substance, offers a viable approach to urgent climate mitigation. However, existing N2O abatement processes require rigorous conditions ( > 400 °C) due to its inertia and high costs. Here we present a cost-effective technology enabling 99.99% N2O conversion at 150 °C and a high reaction rate of 9629.55 kgN2O kgPt−1 h−1 using CH4 as a reductant on Pt/HZSM-5. Mechanism studies reveal the key to this success lies in the reaction-induced Pt nanoparticles, which host monoatomic adsorbed oxygen species and achieve a rapid O* formation/consumption cycle. Techno-economic analysis shows that it offers the potential to reduce N2O abatement costs by 62.3% for industrial adipic acid emissions in China. The study can incentivize further technical development and improve the sustainability of N2O abatement, as well as low-temperature CH4 activation. Cutting industrial nitrous oxide emissions is vital for climate and ozone protection, but current methods need high temperatures. A platinum catalyst converts 99.99% at 150 °C using methane and could cut treatment costs by 62%.