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Converting Greenhouse Gases into Energy

Lausanne_DSC_0548
(Lausanne, Switzerland - Alvin Wei-Cheng Wong)
 
 

- Overview

Greenhouse gases can be reduced by phasing out fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, and moving to renewable energy, such as solar and wind. We can all play a part in protecting our planet, from simple daily changes, like reusing and recycling, to bigger lifestyle decisions like switching to electric vehicles.

Converting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into renewable fuels like methanol offers us a possible way to store energy. To do this, we can harness renewable energy sources (such as wind or solar energy) wherever and whenever we can. 

We can use renewable energy to perform chemical reactions to produce methanol, which we can then transport to where we need it or store it for later use. This process also allows us to temporarily reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 

What's more, this "recycling" of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere helps avoid the release of additional carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels. This could help reduce global warming and man-made climate change, both extremely serious problems of our time.

 

- Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change

Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere are a problem because they contribute to global warming and climate change, which pose a serious threat to the environment we live in. One way to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is to convert it into chemicals such as methanol. This transformation not only reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but also provides a way to store renewable energy such as wind or solar power.

Landfills and agricultural facilities that concentrate animal waste emit greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change. The safe and environmentally sound disposal of animal manure is a major challenge for large-scale agricultural producers. 

The use of fossil fuels as energy sources contributes to global warming and energy demand is growing in many countries. Capturing waste gases and converting them into energy can help mitigate climate change by reducing fossil fuel consumption while reducing the release of harmful gases.

 

- Converting Greenhouse Gases into Energy

There are several technologies that convert greenhouse gases into fuel, including:

  • Carbon capture and conversion: This process uses an alkaline solution to capture carbon dioxide from various sources, such as power plants or open air. The carbon dioxide is then converted into solid formate crystals using a cation-exchange membrane electrolyzer.
  • Renewable energy and chemical reactions: Renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar, can be used to power chemical reactions that produce methanol from carbon dioxide. This process can help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the methanol can be stored or transported for later use.
  • Direct air capture (DAC): This technique absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it into energy resources.
  • Biogas projects: Biogas projects can use Jenbacher engines to turn manure into energy.
  • Algae conversion: Algae can be converted into biofuel using methods such as direct combustion, fermentation, and anaerobic digestion.
 

 - Examples Converting Greenhouse Gases into Energy

 There are a number of examples to turn greenhouse gases into energy, including:

  • Solar-powered devices: NASA has developed a solar-powered device that uses thin-film metal oxides to convert carbon dioxide into fuel. This device can capture carbon dioxide from industrial processes before it's released into the atmosphere.
  • Solar-powered reactors: The University of Cambridge has developed a solar-powered reactor that can convert greenhouse gases and plastic waste into sustainable fuels. The reactor uses a perovskite light absorber, which is a promising alternative to silicon.
  • Renewable energy-powered devices: MIT has developed a device that uses renewable energy and a catalyst to convert carbon dioxide emissions into fuels. The catalyst can be redesigned to produce more carbon monoxide, which can then be converted into liquid fuels.
  • Biogas cogeneration plants: The Ukrainian Milk Company uses a biogas cogeneration plant to turn the waste products from cows into electricity and heat. The company sells the excess electricity to the local grid.
  • Carbon sequestration: Carbon sequestration can be used to convert captured carbon dioxide into fuels and other products. These methods include direct air capturing (DAC), fermentation, transesterification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion (AD). 
  • NASA has developed a new technology that can convert the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (C02) into fuel by using solar-powered, thin-film devices. Metal oxide thin films are fabricated to produce a photoelectrochemical cell that is powered by solar energy.
 
Budapest_Hungary_062522B
[Budapest, Hungary]

- Converting Carbon Dioxide into Ethylene

Ethylene is used in many products, including plastic packaging, antifreeze, medical sterilizers, and vinyl siding. Ethylene is a hydrocarbon which has the formula C2H4. It is a colourless, flammable gas with a faint "sweet and musky" odour when pure.

There are multiple ways to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethylene, including:

  • Electrocatalytic conversion: This process uses a modified copper catalyst to produce ethylene and ethanol from CO2. The process can be improved by refining it to make it more commercially viable.
  • Electrolysis: This process uses an electric current to pass through a cell that's divided into two halves. One half is filled with carbon dioxide and the other with a water-based solution. The charged hydrogen atoms from the water molecules mix with the charged carbon atoms from the carbon dioxide molecules.
  • Artificial photosynthesis: This process uses a device that can turn CO2 and water into ethylene. The device is a step toward making solar fuels.
  • Indirect reduction: This process uses 2-bromoethanol (Br-EO) as a mediator to convert CO2 into ethylene. The Br-EO is initially generated from CO2RR and then reduced to ethylene. 
 

- Future Sustainable Fuel Production from CO2

A new system developed at the University of Michigan efficiently produces ethylene from CO2, paving the way for future sustainable fuel production. 

Ethylene is a chemical with many uses, including:

  • Food ripening: Ethylene is used to ripen fruits and vegetables like bananas, tomatoes, and citrus fruits. Ethylene can also be used to promote flowering in pineapples, which can help with harvesting.
  • Plastics and resins: Ethylene is a key building block for the production of plastics and resins, which are used in many products, including food packaging, bottles, and shopping bags.
  • Industrial chemicals: Ethylene is used to produce other industrial chemicals, such as ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and ethylene dichloride.
  • Antifreeze, solvents, and detergents: Ethylene is used to make chemicals used as antifreeze, solvents, surfactants, and detergents.
  • Fuel gas: Ethylene is used as a fuel gas in welding and cutting operations.
  • Refrigerant gas: Ethylene is used as a refrigerant gas for low temperature applications under the name R-1150.
  • Anesthetic agent: Ethylene is used as an anesthetic agent in an 85% ethylene/15% oxygen ratio.

 

[More to come ...]

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