Background
The conversion of solar energy to fuels requires both water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) as feedstocks. These feedstocks provide the carbon and hydrogen atoms necessary to form hydrocarbons. By removing oxygen from one or both of these compounds, liquid hydrocarbon fuels can be produced. Water can be converted into hydrogen and oxygen through the introduction of energy, and the energy associated with the hydrogen can affect all subsequent reactions and chemical transformations.
There are many options for converting hydrogen (H2) and CO2 into useful chemicals. H2 and CO2 can be combined to form methane or methanol, which has been demonstrated and can be implemented with high conversion efficiency and high selectivity. Another option is to use H2 to convert CO2 into carbon monoxide (CO) by transferring the second oxygen to the hydrogen.
Invention Description
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a novel method for converting solar energy into fuels or precursors to fuels using CO2 captured from the air. This process combines the required removal of CO2 from the air to combat climate change with the production of hydrogen. The removal process uses a hydroxide sorbent that is electrochemically regenerated in a process that at the same time produces hydrogen and oxygen in an electrolyzer cell. This results in the collection of CO2 from the air and the electrolysis of water at the same time, in a cost-effective manner.
Potential Applications
- Oil and gas recovery
- Fuel production from captured CO2
- Carbon sequestration
- CO2 capture (e.g., power plants, industrial/manufacturing plants, airlines)
Benefits and Advantages
- Sustainable – effectively removes CO2 from ambient air
- Cost-effective – collection of CO2 and electrolysis of water occur simultaneously
- Cleaner fuel production – produces fuels or precursors to fuels from solar energy
