Research discovers it is possible to turn CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in to Ethanol - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Engadget]The team was already looking for a way to convert C02 into ethanol but were convinced that doing so would require multiple steps and catalysts. Turns out they were wrong. The system is surprisingly simple. The team created a tiny array of nanoscale copper and carbon spikes mounted on a silicon surface. A nanodroplet of nitrogen sits on the tip of each point. When exposed to carbon dioxide and a small electrical charge, this catalyst sets off an complex chain reaction that essentially reverses the combustion process and converts the gas into liquid ethanol. What's more, because the catalyst is so small, there is virtually no side reactions so the ethanol is quite pure. [/QUOTE] [url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/18/researchers-accidentally-turn-carbon-dioxide-into-ethanol/?sr_source=Facebook]Sauce[/url] [video=youtube;t7EYQLOlwDM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7EYQLOlwDM[/video] It's interesting because it may lead to helping with our energy uses a little more. I know ethanol in gas is a bit of controversy even to this day, but at least this could help us get away from producing it from corn. It's a bit of a minor discovery, but is still a step towards something greater.

[QUOTE=Lolkork;51223241]Is it safe to drink?[/QUOTE] It doesn't directly say yes or no, but there is a line right after the part I quoted saying you wouldn't [I]want to[/I] drink it. So I guess it would need more refinement/distilling/etc. Must be contaminated with the nanos or the copper and other materials they use? Obviously they are focusing on energy uses, but I'm sure one scientist will figure it out when they are dying for a drink.

[QUOTE=Lolkork;51223241]Is it safe to drink?[/QUOTE] It says its quite pure in the article so probably. I wonder if this could be used as a practical new source of drinking alcohol for public consumption since the only raw resource needed is C02.

turn my sky contaminants into beer please

[QUOTE=bastian-07;51223305]turn my sky contaminants into beer please[/QUOTE] it is the most human solution to the issue [editline]18th October 2016[/editline] only thing that would be more human would be to somehow find a way to fuck the CO2 away

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-ethanol_fuel_cell[/url] ...could we make a machine that consumes its own waste?

The amount of ethanol you get out is probably going to be roughly equivalent to the quantity of electricity you put into the process, so certainly not free fuel. But, could be a decent way to clean up the atmosphere a bit while making a useful chemical in the process. Granted, if you burn it that co2 is going straight back into the atmosphere.

[QUOTE=Sinatra;51223414][url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-ethanol_fuel_cell[/url] ...could we make a machine that consumes its own waste?[/QUOTE] It would take more energy to turn the CO2 into ethanol than you could get out of burning the ethanol. It's main use would be storing energy for later use.

Alcohol solves all problems!

[QUOTE=Ninja Gnome;51223359]only thing that would be more human would be to somehow find a way to fuck the CO2 away[/QUOTE] Compress carbon into sex toys.

[QUOTE=froztshock;51223415]The amount of ethanol you get out is probably going to be roughly equivalent to the quantity of electricity you put into the process, so certainly not free fuel. But, could be a decent way to clean up the atmosphere a bit while making a useful chemical in the process. Granted, if you burn it that co2 is going straight back into the atmosphere.[/QUOTE] The energy required for this process could be generated from renewable sources. They said that they were getting yields of 65-70%, but I wonder how it scales up, or how much energy it takes to do this.

The alcohol industry will save mankind from global warming! We will just drink the threat up!

[QUOTE=!LORD M!;51223681]The alcohol industry will save mankind from global warming! We will just drink the threat up![/QUOTE] We must do away the concept of borders and unite not as americans, as british, as german or swedish but as earthlings. Together as children of the earth we must do our duty and drink our fair share to save mother nature. A beer for every man!

great now we're going to have a co2 shortage and all the plants will die

[QUOTE=LtKyle2;51223712]We must do away the concept of borders and unite not as americans, as british, as german or swedish but as earthlings. Together as children of the earth we must do our duty and drink our fair share to save mother nature. A beer for every man![/QUOTE] "How do we save our beautiful planet from destruction?!" "Gentlemen. We shall drink until she's no longer hot." *applause*

[QUOTE=froztshock;51223415]The amount of ethanol you get out is probably going to be roughly equivalent to the quantity of electricity you put into the process, so certainly not free fuel. But, could be a decent way to clean up the atmosphere a bit while making a useful chemical in the process. Granted, if you burn it that co2 is going straight back into the atmosphere.[/QUOTE] I disagree seeing fossil fuels are the majority means to generate energy. So to convert carbon into ethanol isn't going help. The process need to be more energy efficient.

Oh wow, Oak Ridge represent! But on a side note, it might be really hard to scale this up without some sort of controlled Vapor Deposition process to create the Copper/Carbon nanospike array. But atleast it works!

[QUOTE=Guriosity;51223957]I disagree seeing fossil fuels are the majority means to generate energy. So to convert carbon into ethanol isn't going help. The process need to be more energy efficient.[/QUOTE] I think you've misinterpreted my statement. It was predicated on the idea that we do eventually switch over to energy sources which do not generate significant Co2 emissions, either renewables or nuclear. Making the process more energy-efficient will never result in getting more energy out of this process than you put in, as that would almost certainly break thermodynamics. Likewise, if you use fossil fuels to power such a process, even at its most efficient, you'll still put out at least as much Co2 as you collect.

[QUOTE]Likewise, if you use fossil fuels to power such a process, even at its most efficient, you'll still put out at least as much Co2 as you collect.[/QUOTE] This is what I meant

[quote]an complex chain reaction that essentially reverses the combustion process[/quote] :neat:

Oh, wonderful news. PErfect this shit. With the ability to reverse the combustion process we can have our lowered CO2 levels AND our throaty, carburetted, inefficient 1960s V8s. Everyone wins! Hooray for Science!

Can we ramp up nuclear power now to make this worth doing?

[QUOTE=yodaman888;51223290]It says its quite pure in the article so probably. I wonder if this could be used as a practical new source of drinking alcohol for public consumption since the only raw resource needed is C02.[/QUOTE] It would depend on the isotopic makeup of the carbon in the ethanol from this process, the US places a minimum limit on the amount of Carbon-14 in alcoholic drinks to prevent corporations from using industrially sourced ethanol, which tends to be mostly pure Carbon-12 (Legally at least).

[QUOTE=xagnu;51224406]It would depend on the isotopic makeup of the carbon in the ethanol from this process, the US places a minimum limit on the amount of Carbon-14 in alcoholic drinks to prevent corporations from using industrially sourced ethanol, which tends to be mostly pure Carbon-12 (Legally at least).[/QUOTE] This is true but the spirit of that law is to prevent making alcohol from oil. It would probably not be to difficult to get an exemption for making ethanol from C02.

[QUOTE=OvB;51223598]Compress carbon into sex toys.[/QUOTE] A cut diamond dildo just doesn't seem like that good of an idea.

[QUOTE=Zephyrs;51224487]A cut diamond dildo just doesn't seem like that good of an idea.[/QUOTE] I prefer my [del]dildos[/del] diamonds rough

[QUOTE=yodaman888;51224422]This is true but the spirit of that law is to prevent making alcohol from oil. It would probably not be to difficult to get an exemption for making ethanol from C02.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't be so sure of that, I suspect there would be a be a substantial lobby against any amendments from those growing/profiting from ethanol crops. That said however, the more I think about it I imagine atmospheric CO2 would likely have a similar abundance of C-14 to crops. Because as you noted, it's to prevent oil-sourced ethanol specifically - which has gained it's isotopic purity from the time it has spent underground shielded from cosmic radiation. So it's all ultimately moot.

A shame I don't drink if it does get made into alcohol at all.

I've been thinking about converting my car to run on ethanol for years

[QUOTE=Ninja Gnome;51223359]it is the most human solution to the issue [editline]18th October 2016[/editline] only thing that would be more human would be to somehow find a way to fuck the CO2 away[/QUOTE] Make the CO2 => Ethanol process powered by friction and put fleshlight/dildo attachments on.