Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: peppercorn on 20/10/2008 12:23:08

Title: Could sequestered CO2 be used in making CO for industrial processes?
Post by: peppercorn on 20/10/2008 12:23:08

Currently, CO2 is sequestered from some coal power stations to be 'locked' in underground caves.

Conversely, carbon monoxide is a valuable chemical used widely in industry. 

Would it not be advantageous to crack the CO2 into CO & O2 (also of value) & sell it?

The O2 might be better employed in raising the combustion temp of the coal.

The catalytic cracker could be 'bolted-on' to the furnace to reach high enough temps.

No?

Title: Could sequestered CO2 be used in making CO for industrial processes?
Post by: lightarrow on 20/10/2008 20:10:42

Breaking the CO₂ molecule in CO + 1/2O₂ reqires a lot of energy. You couldn't get as much money from the sell as you need for that energy.

Title: Could sequestered CO2 be used in making CO for industrial processes?
Post by: Knute on 21/10/2008 16:03:53

C02 can be used to make useful materials. I saw this at the WIRED Next Fest in Chicago

"Oranges and carbon dioxide become plastic via the alchemy of catalysts first discovered at Cornell University. While researchers have worked for years to combine renewable materials like carbon-based limonene (found in citrus peels) and carbon dioxide into polymers (the building blocks of plastic), these catalysts do the job so well they have made the process cheap — paving the way for today's healthy snack to one day become tomorrow's renewable plastic fork."
http://www.wirednextfest.com/inform/2008/exhibits/plastic_CO2.php

Title: Could sequestered CO2 be used in making CO for industrial processes?
Post by: peppercorn on 22/10/2008 16:22:40

limonene - isn't that what my kitchen floors made out of? He he!!

To be honest, wouldn't we be better off just eating the oranges?