Climate changes, which are rapidly increasing their impact, threaten the future of both the planet and all living things on it. When this is the case, scientists are looking for ways to prevent this terrible situation.
Now, scientists from the University of Waterloo in Canada announced that they have made a move that can make a serious difference in the fight against climate change. The study findings were published today via Nature Energy.
Harmful carbon dioxide can be converted into fuels and valuable chemicals on an industrial scale
According to the study, scientists have developed a technology that can convert harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuels and valuable chemicals at low cost. It was reported that the system can provide 10 times more carbon monoxide used to make ethanol, methane and other essential substances than currently available small-scale technologies.
It is also stated that the system can be used to create reactors of any size and is an economical solution. One of the researchers, Dr. “This is a critical step towards connecting CO2 laboratory technology to industrial applications,” says Zhongwei Chen about the technology.
The system converts carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by burning fossil fuels through devices known as electrolyzers to carbon monoxide (CO) using water and electricity. The electrolyzers developed by the researchers have new electrodes and a new liquid-based electrolyte saturated with CO2 that flows into the devices to induce conversion to carbon monoxide through an electrochemical reaction. These devices are also said to be large enough to be used in reactors of any size.
Experts state that an important step can be taken on climate change with new technology. Chen says he’s excited by the potential of technology, and they need to focus on really making a difference by reducing emissions and making it cost-effective. The researchers add that they want to increase their environmental contribution by using renewable energy in the reactors where the technology will be used.
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