Carbon Dioxide = Chemical Building Blocks??

 


The “holy grail”  of chemistry is being studied at Montana State University. James Crawford released a paper with the national renewable energy laboratory. It confirms the potential of converting greenhouse gas, or carbon dioxide, into the chemical building blocks that will be used to make other materials.

Originally published in ACS Catalysis, it shows (On the front cover) Atom scale diagrams of the carbon dioxide transmutation process. 

Reports Crawford, “ We have successfully captured carbon dioxide, then converted it into methane and carbon monoxide a using functionalized, microporous material. . . Methane is a drop-in energy resource, Compatible with existing natural gas infrastructure. Carbon monoxide has a bad reputation, but turns out to be an Essential reactant in generating synthetic fuels and chemicals.” 

Current techniques for the removal of carbon from the atmosphere involves storing the gas, rather than transforming it into new products. 

“ What we’re trying to do is introduce another way to capture carbon dioxide, by locking it up with chemical bonds. . . If you can convert atmospheric gases, like carbon dioxide and water into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, you can make pretty much any hydrocarbon,” states Crawford. 

Crawford’s team is researching materials that can wick carbon dioxide from the air and allow reactions that change the molecules identity. “These catalysts must have carbon dioxide attachment sites, as well as reactive structures that permit chemical reaction to take place,” states Crawford. 

There are two materials of most interest to the team, specifically: zeolites (ceramic-like materials) and metal organic frameworks. These are metal nodes connected with organic links. Both of these materials contain micropores and the capability to create carbon dioxide capture and conversion sites.  

Crawford is hopeful these biomimetic  (mimic biological processes)  Properties will continue to be researched. This is a very green step forward!!!! 

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