NO2 Emissions

NitroNet: Smart System to Quantify Nitrous Oxide Emissions in farms awarded a $3M grant from Dept. of Energy.

PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 31, 2022 – Intelligent Material Solutions, Inc. (IMS), an innovator in the field of optical materials and detectors, Paige Wireless, a creator of reliable and effective connectivity, and Slant Range, a leader in advanced agriculture technology, all received DOE ARPA-E grants. Mark Zondlo, a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University and the Director of Graduate Studies, received a DOE ARPA-E grant.

The project, dubbed “NitroNet: Smart System to Quantify Nitrous Oxide Emissions,” involves an autonomous sensing system that will monitor fields for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in a non-disruptive manner during the growing season. This award is part of the SMARTFARM program, which aims to improve biofuel supply chain data collection.

The project has the potential to transform the emissions assessment of farms. N2O is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, with an environmental impact of 300:1 when comparing one pound of N2O to one pound of CO2.A large portion of the N2O in the atmosphere is emitted indirectly, and with large variability in space and time, as a byproduct of fertilization of croplands.

NitroNet. 
Nitrous Oxide Emissions
NitroNet schematic showing the overlapping beams as the laser scans across a quarter-section (160 acres) field with staked, simple reflectors around the perimeter (left). Schematic of the interband cascade laser (ICL) sensor head and example of a simple reflector (right). (images from Google Earth)

The research may enable farmers to make informed decisions regarding strategies that limit the detrimental environmental and climate impacts of agricultural crop production by quantifying nitrogen loss across a growing season. The system has the potential to enhance the United States’ security as a leader in agricultural sustainability by incentivizing and monetizing emission reductions for farmers, as well as allowing producers to participate in carbon management markets.

NitroNet casts a ‘net’ over an area to map N2O emissions at high temporal and spatial resolutions using eye-safe mid-infrared lasers, ultra-sensitive detectors, and affordable reflectors. The monitoring will be validated with the use of a small pilotless drone, and the results will be compared to existing monitoring methods.

“What is unique about NitroNet is that it is a continuous, unattended 24/7 system that does not interfere with the farmers’ operation, and yet the information will allow farmers to monetize their efforts to reduce their climatic footprint. It is a ‘win-win’ for both agriculture and the environment,” said Professor Zondlo.

IMS is a material science and technology company that develops rare-earth crystals, as well as custom sensors. The company has a portfolio of patents around rare-earth crystals covering devices, methods, systems, and composition of matter. IMS products have applications in quantum/optical computing, life science – diagnostics/therapeutic/imaging, authentication, transportation, defense, and agriculture. The company is based out of Princeton, NJ in the iconic RCA/Sarnoff Building. For more information on IMS, visit: https://www.intelligentmaterial.com.

Professor Zondlo heads the Atmospheric Chemistry and Composition Group at Princeton University. For more information on Professor Zondlo and the Zondlo Research Group, visit: http://zondlo.princeton.edu/.

Paige Wireless is the largest, contiguous carrier-grade LoRaWAN network in North America with a focus on bringing connectivity solutions to currently under-served industrial verticals. The company helps businesses, communities, and the nation’s farmers leverage technology for remote data collection, automating tasks, security and asset management, resource control, observation, installations, and much more.

Subscribe to Newsletter !!

Sign up for Newsletter to receive awesome content in your inbox, every week.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

heshmore logo

Sign up to Newsletter receive Top Technology Stories in your inbox, every week.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.