Scientists have for many years sought to energy-efficient way to change carbon dioxide into methanol. "In the presence of oxygen, the combustion of methanol, carbon dioxide and water," explains Frédéric-Georges Fontaine, leader of the research team.
Therefore, researchers have started looking other way around. "That would allow us to sharply reduce carbon dioxide production, plus we got fuel, which would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels," he adds.
The catalyst developed by Canadian team used two chemical compounds. The first is from the group of boranes - boron compound, carbon and hydrogen. The second is a phosphine, a compound of phosphorus, carbon and hydrogen. "Unlike most catalysts have been developed for the transformation of CO2 to methanol, ours contains no metals, reducing both costs and risks of toxic substances," said Fontaine.
Catalyst needs only hydrogen and chemical energy. Scientists are currently trying borane (BH3) and the results are said to be admirable. Reaction is twice higher efficiency than previously known catalysts. A produces very little waste. Also important is the fact that the chemical reaction does not damage the catalyst itself. The reaction can then be restarted only supply new substrate.
The whole method but so far works only under laboratory conditions. According to scientists from the chemical standpoint, highly effective, but the whole process is for industrial use overly expensive. "Synthesis of borane consumes so much energy that it is more expensive than methanol itself," says Fontaine. Scientists want to improve the reaction itself and also to determine whether it would be appropriate to other sources of hydrogen.
Source: Ekolist.cz