He CO2 he could end himself. Are we about to say goodbye to the most dangerous gas on the planet? Not even the energy that Columbus discovered and allows us to save tons of carbon dioxide is so effective. This is one of the main polluting gases in the Planet Earth. Along with methane and water vapor, they are the dominant gases in the atmosphere, contributing to the rise of global warming.
Much of the polluting emissions into the atmosphere have to do with human activity. In fact, among the sectors that emit the most polluting gases we find the energy sector, fashion, industrial agriculture and livestock. In all of them, in some way, man is involved, just as in the automotive and construction sectors.
Let us remember that carbon dioxide is not toxic, but it is not useful for breathing either. The problem is the high concentrations in the indoor air that generate an uncomfortable sensation and make breathing difficult. There is a group of scientists from M.I.T. that have turned the problem of CO2 in a business opportunity.
CO2 goes to another level
This group of experts has managed to degrade the CO2 to carbon monoxide to be used in the production of fuel and converted into a profitable substance. The MIT Magazine (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has reported on this feat.
In addition to allowing fuels to be generated, it also opens an important door towards the long-awaited decarbonization, given that it represents a notable reduction in greenhouse gases to be able to apply them to this technology.
To reach this point, electricity has been used for a chemical conversion with a catalyst that is attached to the surface of the electrode by strands of DNA. From the institution they explain that DNA acts like “Velcro” to stick the different elements together for an efficient reaction.
Converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide involves a high energy cost, but with the use of electrocatalysts such as iron and cobalt, a type of Faraday ray box has been created. In them, energy is totally effective and nothing is wasted. In this way, this procedure becomes much cleaner and more profitable.
CO2 disappears to give rise to a profitable business
There are many hopes for this idea, so much so that the researchers have founded a company called Helix Carbon. In it, they are going to try the commercial development of this technology. This is not the only technology useful for ending carbon dioxide. In fact, there are other inventions to convert it into fiber and hydrogen plants that capture it.
Over time, humans will find the perfect ‘antidote’ to achieve their goal at the lowest possible cost.
CO2 could be used for something very useful
“This would allow us to take carbon dioxide from emissions or dissolved in the ocean, and turn it into profitable chemicals.”
“It’s really a way forward for decarbonization because we can take CO2which is a greenhouse gas, and convert it into things that are useful for the manufacture of chemicals,” he said. Ariel Furstassistant professor of professional development Paul M. Cook of Chemical Engineering and lead author of the study published in Journal of the American Chemical Society Au (ACS Publications).
Regarding DNA, he explained: “DNA is relatively cheap, it can be chemically modified and the interaction between two strands can be controlled by changing the sequences. “It’s like sequence-specific Velcro that has very strong but reversible interactions that you can control.”
Ultimately, the CO2 It could be used to create a profitable business. Time will show if we are facing an alternative as viable as its creators believe, just as the first foods grown with CO2.
