Scientists make global warming breakthrough by converting CO2 emissions to ethanol
October 19, 2016
Accidental lab experiment unlocks cheap and efficient way of removing CO2 by converting it to fuel
Scientists working in a Tennessee lab have discovered a valuable new tool in the fight against climate change after they unwittingly discovered a new chemical reaction that turns CO2 into ethanol.
The researchers, working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, were originally attempting to make a material called graphene but failed because they lacked the correct equipment.
Instead, they created another new hybrid material that consists of tiny spikes of carbon and copper spears, only a few atoms thick, on a surface of silicon.
Scientists then discovered these ‘nanospikes’ became a powerful catalyst that, when electricity is passed through, attracted CO2 molecules to the surface where they reacted.
To the researchers’ astonishment, the result was ethanol production — a valuable fuel and petrol alternative.
In the future this new nanotechnology will be crucial, scientists say, in dealing with problems associated with relying on renewable energies like solar or wind power.
During the daytime, for example, most solar powerplants produce too much electricity for the grid. Instead of wasting it, in the future it can be channelled into the nanotechnology cells to covert CO2 from the air into ethanol.
At night, when the solar plant is not operational, the ethanol fuel can than power generators to ensure there is no interruption in power supply from the grid.
Wind farms can rely on ethanol power on days when the wind speed is not sufficient to produce enough power.
The process could also be used within cities to produce ethanol to fuel petrol-powered vehicles. If the electricity used is from renewables, it could herald a new source of carbon-neutral fuel.
According to those who discovered the new technology, the scientists have so far found few drawbacks from the nanospike catalysts.
The reaction works at room temperature and is claimed to be highly efficient with the yield of the catalyst said to be as much as 70 per cent.
As well as being efficient, the process has also been described as cost-effective and, importantly, scalable — meaning the catalysts could soon be used to ‘scrub’ CO2 emissions from factory chimneys.
Sadly, what scientists at Oak Ridge haven’t been able to do is give a timescale for when their new tech will be ready. Instead, researchers are working to make it even more efficient and developing plans to introduce large-scale implementation.
