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Accidental Discovery : From Carbondioxide to Ethanol

by | 22-10-2016 12:05 recommendations 0

We are used to different accidental discoveries that have changed the world in many ways. The terms for such accidental yet fortune happening is knows as Serendipty. Newton's famous gravity law inspired from falling apple, Pasteur's Chirality, Chicken Cholera Vaccine, Nobel's blasting gelatin and prominently Viagra are few examples which have tremendously changed human civilization. And for optimist -budding environmentalist like me, it was just merely a dream before someone found this miraculous discoveries on controlling atmospheric Carbondioxide.

According to news published at Science and Time.com, Scientist have accidently discovered method that could turn carbon-dioxide into ethanol, a finding that could play a significant role in combating climate change.Like Science pointed out, if this can be scaled up into industrial level, it will literally change the world.




The finding comes from the Department of Energy?s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where a catalyst was created out of carbon, copper and nitrogen. Scientists added the catalyst and voltage to carbon dioxide to create ethanol. The discovery which pushed combustion reaction backward as stated by ORNL researcher and study's lead author Adam Rondinone.




?By using common materials, but arranging them with nanotechnology, we figured out how to limit the side reactions and end up with the one thing that we want,? said Rondinone in a press release.




In a very interesting note when the scientist were expecting to get methanol or least significant methane, ethane or carbonmonoxide, they discovered rather highly useful products aka Ethanol which have enormous demand worldwide with US alone requiring it in billions amount. What's more, the process is 63 per cent efficient and with modest conspumption of electricity, its reversing combustion process.




According to them, ethanol which are produced from carbondioxide can be used  as a low-cost battery by Energy companies to store electricity produced from solar or wind power plants. This permit to consume extra electricity  whenever available and storing it as ethanol.




With many research being done to reverse carbondioxide process, such optimistic discoveries from ORNL had shed some light of hope among climate change control enthusiast. If all goes well, greatest human threat could now be turned into opportunity.

 

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8 Comments

  • says :
    Hi Rahul, thanks for telling us interesting stories :D
    Posted 31-10-2016 13:38

  • says :
    Thanks for sharing, Rahul! As other ambassadors have mentioned, it was very recent to hear about this news! I hope this accidental discovery can contribute to sustainable development, like how other discoveries have made our life better. Have a great day :)
    Posted 28-10-2016 19:47

  • says :
    wow ...its amazing....I would love to hear about more of such discoveries in near future.....thank u Rahul for ur report

    Posted 25-10-2016 22:12

  • says :
    Hope all goes well so as climate change problems can be reduced, thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of discovery.
    Posted 25-10-2016 05:31

  • Yvonne Wabai says :
    As a scientist, I identify with this post. It is true that most things in the science world are discovered 'accidentally'. I hope this method of preparing ethanol from carbon (iv) oxide bears fruit.
    Posted 23-10-2016 22:12

  • says :
    Same with Dewi, I have also heard of this news recently. As an person fond of research and development, a.k.a. budding scientist (after I obtain my Masters degree), I can strongly consider this as breakthrough in the field of environmental science. So thanks for letting everyone know!
    Posted 23-10-2016 21:19

  • Arushi Madan says :
    Such accidental discoveries are welcomed. There is indeed great demand of ethanol for it's many applications. I hope this discovery will be helpful in meeting the demand sustainably. As you mentioned this ethanol can be used to produce low cost battery to store solar power-this is great. Thanks for sharing.
    Posted 23-10-2016 20:40

  • Dewi Retno S says :
    I heard about this news not long ago. I hope this discovery can help to combat climate change. Thanks for sharing this good news :)
    Posted 23-10-2016 08:58

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