Methanol production from atmospheric CO2



Is there a chance to produce liquid fuels (for example, methanol or dymethil
ether) useful for private transportation from natural (and potentially very
dangerous...) CO2, using low temperature waste heat (and if necessary
electricity/hydrogen) from "clean" energy sources (geothermal, solar, wind
or even nuclear) ? I'm very curious, which are in particular the
temperatures and energies needed?

After a quick search, I found this : it doesn't seem that producing methanol
from atmospheric CO2 is so unfeasible,
according to this study (if I understand it correctly)
http://www.jngc.org/PCN/qikan/manage/wenzhang/1999-03-0211.pdf
With moderate temps, in the range of 200-250 °C (I think readily available
with renewables or nuclear enenrgy sources with, of course, some reduction
in electricity produced), and pressures, about 20 atm, the conversion
achievable of CO2 to methanol is more than 10% (a lot of CO2 in the
atmosphere, I don't think this figure is a problem) with a CH3OH selectivity
of almost 100% - if it's not problem, with a lower selectivity even lower
temps can be used.

Certainly, the economics of the process are all to be seen






.


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