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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 11/28/2012 02:01 PM, Rich Faulkner
wrote:<br>
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<blockquote cite="mid:1354129268.2187.16.camel@ubuntumate"
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Found this via CNN and thought I'd share:<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.airfuelsynthesis.com/investment-opportunity/projects/1000-tonne-a-day-plant-.html">http://www.airfuelsynthesis.com/investment-opportunity/projects/1000-tonne-a-day-plant-.html</a><br>
<br>
The gist of it is to take carbon dioxide and react it with
hydrogen separated from water to create methanol. Best of all, IT
WORKS!!!<br>
<br>
Will be following this with great interest!<br>
<br>
Cheers! Rich in Lilburn
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Looking at their blurb I am not convinced as a chemist the process
will be commercially viable. Electrolysis of water requires dc
current breakdown the water in hydrogen and oxygen. The
hydrogenation reaction to methanol or methane appears to require
both pressure and temperature; more energy inputs; for the reaction
to occur. They posit using only solar energy which will probably
limit the locations a plant can be built - the middle of a desert
for best solar efficiency. <br>
<br>
The basic thermodynamics of the propose process will require energy
inputs in as electric current, pressure, and heat for the required
reactions to occur. They do not occur spontaneously under normal
pressures and temperature. Whether this is overall a better process
I do not know but I tend to doubt it or it would be used
commercially. The actual reactions have been know and studied for
sometime with vary degrees of enthusiasm.<br>
<br>
Another issue is the concentration of carbon dioxide is in the
atmosphere is about 0.04% and the amount of water for comparison is
typically 1% near the surface. So they will need to concentrate the
carbon dioxide to have an efficient process; more energy.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Jay Lozier
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jslozier@gmail.com">jslozier@gmail.com</a></pre>
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