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Scientists find a way to turn CO2 into Ethanol
posted in World Events
1
#1
0 Frags +

Seems like scientists can turn CO2 into ethanol in a process that could at least theoretically be viable. Apparently they found it by accident when trying to convert the CO2 into Methanol.
Anyways I'm not gonna type it all here so here's the video explaining it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7EYQLOlwDM

Seems like scientists can turn CO2 into ethanol in a process that could at least theoretically be viable. Apparently they found it by accident when trying to convert the CO2 into Methanol.
Anyways I'm not gonna type it all here so here's the video explaining it [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7EYQLOlwDM[/youtube]
2
#2
3 Frags +

super interesting stuff. I could honestly see the guys behind this easily becoming heroes if they can find a way to take it from a small lab experiment to a mass production project

super interesting stuff. I could honestly see the guys behind this easily becoming heroes if they can find a way to take it from a small lab experiment to a mass production project
3
#3
7 Frags +
Konceptsuper interesting stuff. I could honestly see the guys behind this easily becoming heroes if they can find a way to take it from a small lab experiment to a mass production project

The dudes who invented the microwave did so by accident and they're heroes so yeah absolutely

[quote=Koncept]super interesting stuff. I could honestly see the guys behind this easily becoming heroes if they can find a way to take it from a small lab experiment to a mass production project[/quote]
The dudes who invented the microwave did so by accident and they're heroes so yeah absolutely
4
#4
8 Frags +

This is actually fucking nuts. I hope big things come of this.

This is actually fucking nuts. I hope big things come of this.
5
#5
4 Frags +

The not-quite-nanotech not-quite-graphene based catalyst thing in that video is new (-ish, others have done similar things), but turning CO2 and water into various fuels isn't a new idea, for anyone interested. Really, most good ideas existed by the 70s, to quote a friend. Look up "hydrogen economy" or "methanol economy", basically you're using electricity (or possibly direct sunlight) to make reactions happen to produce fuel for car with engines (or oil for plastics) rather than using that electricity directly to drive motors or turn on light bulbs.

The not-quite-nanotech not-quite-graphene based catalyst thing in that video is new (-ish, others have done similar things), but turning CO2 and water into various fuels isn't a new idea, for anyone interested. Really, most good ideas existed by the 70s, to quote a friend. Look up "hydrogen economy" or "methanol economy", basically you're using electricity (or possibly direct sunlight) to make reactions happen to produce fuel for car with engines (or oil for plastics) rather than using that electricity directly to drive motors or turn on light bulbs.
6
#6
5 Frags +

i know little about these things, but shouldn't we know more about the energy it takes to trigger the reaction to make
CO2 -> CH3CH2OH?
I mean... we can totally make gold from any other element by "just" adding a bunch of protons, but the energy cost is HIGHLY disadvantageous, that makes the cost of making gold higher then the value of the gold produced.
But, as i said, what i've just written may totally be crap

i know little about these things, but shouldn't we know more about the energy it takes to trigger the reaction to make
CO2 -> CH3CH2OH?
I mean... we can totally make gold from any other element by "just" adding a bunch of protons, but the energy cost is HIGHLY disadvantageous, that makes the cost of making gold higher then the value of the gold produced.
But, as i said, what i've just written may totally be crap
7
#7
3 Frags +

Batteries take chemicals A B and C and convert them to D E and F (sometimes C and F, the solvent, stay the same). In a battery, all 6 chemicals stay in the battery, and A and D (as well as B and E) turn into each each other already in the right shape to work as a battery and convert back the other way.

In a <whatever> economy, you're doing the same, except you only need A B D and E, which are all liquids and gases, then the C and F chemicals are replaced with electrolysis machines and a fuel cells or engine.

It's the same deal, one chemical reaction stores the energy, the other releases it in a useful way. Except the guys in this video have improved the storing energy bit by adding a catalyst to improve the reaction, or something.

Batteries take chemicals A B and C and convert them to D E and F (sometimes C and F, the solvent, stay the same). In a battery, all 6 chemicals stay in the battery, and A and D (as well as B and E) turn into each each other already in the right shape to work as a battery and convert back the other way.

In a <whatever> economy, you're doing the same, except you only need A B D and E, which are all liquids and gases, then the C and F chemicals are replaced with electrolysis machines and a fuel cells or engine.

It's the same deal, one chemical reaction stores the energy, the other releases it in a useful way. Except the guys in this video have improved the storing energy bit by adding a catalyst to improve the reaction, or something.
8
#8
4 Frags +

This is cool and all, but when are they going to learn how to turn H2O to Cognac?

This is cool and all, but when are they going to learn how to turn H2O to Cognac?
9
#9
5 Frags +
cirlobut the energy cost is HIGHLY disadvantageous

the main thing is that a lot of electricity is unused since you can't really store it effectively in most cases so you can just make ethanol instead and sell it

[quote=cirlo]
but the energy cost is HIGHLY disadvantageous[/quote]

the main thing is that a lot of electricity is unused since you can't really store it effectively in most cases so you can just make ethanol instead and sell it
10
#10
10 Frags +

the reason this is important is because we can use it as a carbon sequestering source

attaching it to a renewable source like solar or wind and you could have a reaction that is carbon negative

the reason this is important is because we can use it as a carbon sequestering source

attaching it to a renewable source like solar or wind and you could have a reaction that is carbon negative
11
#11
3 Frags +

wow hello science people im here just posting links and u guys actually know shit lol

wow hello science people im here just posting links and u guys actually know shit lol
12
#12
0 Frags +
SmytherT (-ish, others have done similar things)

https://www.rtvslo.si/znanost-in-tehnologija/kemijski-institut-zacenja-projekt-pridobivanja-metanola-iz-odpadnega-co2/353140

As the comment added above, this has already been done but the chemists who were doing it were murdered. They were most likely assassinated by a professional because of the silenced weapon used to remove them from the world.

[quote=Smyther]T (-ish, others have done similar things)[/quote]
https://www.rtvslo.si/znanost-in-tehnologija/kemijski-institut-zacenja-projekt-pridobivanja-metanola-iz-odpadnega-co2/353140

As the comment added above, this has already been done but the chemists who were doing it were murdered. They were most likely assassinated by a professional because of the silenced weapon used to remove them from the world.
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