[cdn-nucl-l] Synfuel from CO2

[George Stanford <gstanford@aya.yale.edu>]

All:

        Standing in the way of the "hydrogen economy" are some challenging problems related to infrastructure for distributing and handling hydrogen.  Meanwhile, there already exists an infrastructure for handling and distributing liquid fuels -- even if not based on fossil sources.  With the investment of (nuclear) energy, carbon can be extracted from CO2 and hydrogen from water, to make synthetic liquid fuel.  No coal involved -- unless the CO2 comes from existing coal-fired plants. Simplest, perhaps, is to make methanol (CH3OH):
        2CO2 + 4H2O + energy -> 2CH3OH + 3O2.

        There are some operational challenges, but it's doable if you have the energy.  It is truly carbon-neutral, since the CO2 emitted when the fuel is burned is only equal to what was used in the first place.  This would make use of the existing distribution infrastructure while a better system (batteries or boron, perhaps) evolves.

        

There is work going on in this area.  In particular, these two
videos are good to know about:
<
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_ST7oCLUCw4>

     

        

("Syntrolysis" - Idaho National Laboratory)
<
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eot_JpsMIsw&feature=related>

        

(Northern
Arizona State University)

        

Should we
should be putting more resources into getting this technology off the
ground?

        There's good info and links at the following American Energy Independence Web pages:
< http://www.AmericanEnergyIndependence.com/nuclearenergy.aspx

>

This Carbon Dioxide web page provides detail
about recycling CO2:
<
http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/co2.aspx>
See the section titled: CO2 is valuable, don't waste it, recycle
it! 

<
http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/nucleargen4.aspx>

<
www.AmericanEnergyIndependence.com>

--  George  Stanford
            

Reactor physicist, retired
 
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