Synthesizing CO2 has been upgraded to Tackle Environmental Issues
Chinese researchers have developed a new means of synthesizing carbon dioxide that can help tackle environmental issues in a big way...
A study published in the journal Nature Catalysis on Thursday by Chinese scientists displays that they have created an efficient way of synthesizing CO2 into long carbon chain compounds like sugar and fatty acids.
The researchers claim that the newly discovered technology may turn a greenhouse emission into a valued product. This is just another step in the right direction of tackling environmental issues and achieving a sustainable economy.
The newly discovered method uses a hybrid electro-biosystem by combining carbon dioxide electrolysis and yeast fermentation. The system efficiently converts CO2 into glucose or fatty acid.
One of the correspondent authors, Zeng Jie, said the progress tries to convert CO2 into acetic acid, which is vinegar’s main component and an excellent biosynthetic carbon source.
"Acetic acid can be transformed into other substances, such as glucose. Acetic acid can be obtained by direct electrolysis of CO2, but with ultra-low efficiency."
Zeng Jie said.
The acetate which is produced by a normal electrocatalytic device is always mixed with other byproducts. These byproducts cannot be used directly for biological fermentation. Researchers have developed a special piece of equipment that can separate and purify the solution. The piece of equipment has the potential for large-scale practical use.
"The out-coming acetic acid from our device is very pure and concentrated, which can be directly consumed by the yeast as feedstock to produce glucose.”
Xia Chuan, a professor from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, said.
"This demonstration is a starting point for realizing light-reaction-free artificial synthesis of important organic products from CO2."
Yu Tao, a professor from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.