Scientists May Be Able to Generate Fuel From Carbon Dioxide in the Air
- 11 years ago
Scientists develop useful products from air.
Researchers from the University of Georgia have found a way to create usable products from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
By genetically engineering a microorganism that can absorb carbon dioxide and turn it into chemicals or even fuels, scientists have found a way to use the excess carbon that is in our atmosphere.
Carbon emissions are effecting climate change on our planet.
The microorganism, Pyrococcus furiosus, also known as the “rushing fireball,” normally feeds on carbohydrates from geothermal vents in the ocean, but researchers have genetically modified them to create a usable industrial chemical out of carbon dioxide.
The next step is to further modify the organism to create fuel from carbon dioxide in the air.
Researchers think that the fuel created by the rushing fireball organism would only release the amount of carbon used to make the fuel, rather than creating additional carbon emissions like gas, oil, and coal do when they are burned.
Michael Adams from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences said: “This is an important first step that has great promise as an efficient and cost-effective method of producing fuels. In the future we will refine the process and begin testing it on larger scales.”
Researchers from the University of Georgia have found a way to create usable products from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
By genetically engineering a microorganism that can absorb carbon dioxide and turn it into chemicals or even fuels, scientists have found a way to use the excess carbon that is in our atmosphere.
Carbon emissions are effecting climate change on our planet.
The microorganism, Pyrococcus furiosus, also known as the “rushing fireball,” normally feeds on carbohydrates from geothermal vents in the ocean, but researchers have genetically modified them to create a usable industrial chemical out of carbon dioxide.
The next step is to further modify the organism to create fuel from carbon dioxide in the air.
Researchers think that the fuel created by the rushing fireball organism would only release the amount of carbon used to make the fuel, rather than creating additional carbon emissions like gas, oil, and coal do when they are burned.
Michael Adams from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences said: “This is an important first step that has great promise as an efficient and cost-effective method of producing fuels. In the future we will refine the process and begin testing it on larger scales.”