Concise Review of the Evolution of Sustainable Nitrogen Fixation Technologies: From Natural Processes to Recent Plasma-Based Innovations

Highlights Plasma-based nitrogen fixation offers sustainable alternatives to Haber-Bosch. Microwave induction plasma coupled torches achieve high efficiency using air and water. Biological fixation remains vital but limited in scalability and consistency. Review compares natural and artificial methods for nitrogen fixation. Abstract. Nitrogen is a vital element for life, playing a key role in biological processes such as photosynthesis and protein synthesis. Despite its abundance in the atmosphere as dinitrogen (N2), it must be converted into a usable form for most organisms. Because it is unusable in its natural state, it must be transformed into ammonia or other nitrogen compounds that plants and other organisms can absorb. This process is called nitrogen fixation. This document reviews both natural and artificial methods for fixing nitrogen. Natural processes include physical, biological, geological, and marine fixation. In contrast, artificial methods include pioneering processes such as the Frank-Caro, Birkeland-Eyde (now obsolete), and Haber-Bosch, which is currently the primary method for industrial ammonia production. However, the latter faces criticism due to its dependence on fossil fuels and the greenhouse gases it produces. Also included are plasma-based nitrogen fixation methods, such as microwave-induced plasma (MIP) torches, which offer promising alternatives by harnessing renewable energy sources and providing high efficiency. This review highlights the evolution, mechanisms, and environmental impacts of nitrogen fixation technologies, emphasizing the need for sustainable and energy-efficient solutions.