Scientists Discover How to Make Ethanol out of Carbon Dioxide

Science is just full of surprises. For proof of that, you only need to look at the recent discovery made by scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, who found that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be converted into ethanol through a chemical reaction.

Though the finding was unexpected, the team did set out looking for ways to turn CO2 into a useful fuel, according to Popular Mechanics. Adam Rondinone, outreach coordinator for the nanofabrication research laboratory, said the team was expecting to eventually produce methanol from its process, but instead produced ethanol, a fuel that’s already used in cars and other machines. The other big surprise was the fuel was created after only the first step.

The chemical reaction relies on copper and carbon molecules arranged into nanospikes on a silicon surface. This limits the contaminants and allows the reaction to be very precise. The process also works at room temperature, meaning it can be carried out easily and cheaply. Popular Mechanics posits that the process could be used as a stopgap until a renewable energy grid is established.

“By using common materials, but arranging them with nanotechnology, we figured out how to limit the side reactions and end up with the one thing that we want,” said Rondinone. “A process like this would allow you to consume extra electricity when it’s available to make and store as ethanol. This could help to balance a grid supplied by intermittent renewable sources.”

The ability to convert CO2, an emission we don’t want, into ethanol, a fuel we already use, could be a major breakthrough. The scientists intend to study the process further and attempt to make it more efficient. If things work out, they’ll look into large-scale ethanol production using this method.

Source: Popular Mechanics

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