Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) has a global warming potential 300x that of CO₂.

N₂O is released from various sources, including fertilizers and adipic acid production.

One N₂O sub-thesis focuses on adipic acid, used for nylon 6,6 production, which contributes to ~0.23 gigatons of CO₂e annually.

What's the problem?

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions are a high priority area given the gas’s disproportionate impact on radiative warming (300x that of CO₂) and low attention received relative to CO₂.
One source we focus on specifically is adipic acid (e.g., for nylon 6,6 production), given its high associated emissions – each ton of adipic acid results in 300kg N₂O, or ~0.23 Gtons of CO₂ equivalent annually.
Sustainable fertilizers are also a priority focus, given that 4 Mtons of N2O (~1.2Gtons CO₂e) are released annually from agricultural soils.

Who are the key players?

Nearly 70% of nitrous oxide emissions result from agriculture; however, we have currently deprioritized this sector as a venture thesis given convoluted dependencies within sustainable farming.
Chemical production is another key area of N₂O emissions, accounting for 10% annually, including nitric acid production for fertilizers and adipic acid production for nylon 6,6.
Wastewater treatment and sewage processing emit N₂O, though this is a smaller source compared to agriculture and chemical industry.

What does AccelR8 think?

There is an urgent need for innovation in 1) sustainable chemical production, 2) polymer recycling, and 3) wastewater treatment.

Bio-based pathways are actively being developed for green production of adipic acid (see: OzoneBio and Zymochem). However, emissions at end-of-life – for both bio-based and petroleum-based polymers (e.g., nylons) – must be addressed to merit use of the polymer as well, including in blended textiles (see: Tereform).
Sustainable fertilizers and low-carbon agricultural soil further reduce emissions by removing dependency on nitric acid production (see: Andes).
Finally, N₂O can be emitted from sludge wastewater; by breaking down biosolids in sludge, these emissions (as well as microplastics and PFAS) can be mitigated (see: Beyond the Dome).

How can you help?

If anyone is aware of, or actively working towards, solutions for green chemicals, sustainable fertilizer, or polymer recycling, please let us at AccelR8 know!

Questions.

What we look for.

What we look for in founders:

We back founders building great companies at the speed and scale necessary to avert climate tipping points. We look for founders who are:

Problem Solvers: You obsess over customer problems, not just the tech. Your goal is rapid, widespread adoption.

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Nitrous Oxide

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