GREENHOUSE GASES
We have a serious problem here on Earth – at least one. Everyone knows it. The emission of “greenhouse gases” (such as carbon dioxide) has been heating up the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. Even if you don’t believe how much is man-made as opposed to other natural causes, it’s still a problem we need to do something about – like reduce the man-made sources of greenhouse gases.
One of the major sources of carbon dioxide emissions is coal-fired power plants. As long we are dependent on them for generating electricity (and steam) – which will probably be for a long time yet – they are going to be a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions. Some have been advocating an approach called “sequestration” – which means capture the emissions and store them safely (like underground). That seems like an expensive and wasteful solution. Why can’t we find some way to use the carbon dioxide? After all, most plant life on the Earth thrives on carbon dioxide – and makes something called oxygen, which we like to use – and is good for us! Well, if we could ever figure out how photosynthesis works, we might be able to do the same thing that trees do for us. But, scientists say that is very difficult and won’t happen any time soon.
So, how about we use the carbon dioxide to make something else we can use? As an alternative, we can “feed” the carbon dioxide to plants (like algae farms) to make oxygen – and fuel. Some people are working on that and it may prove to be practical and economical in some cases.
Another alternative, that may be a little more difficult, is to add the carbon dioxide to other compounds to make something useful – like fuel. For example, you need carbon and oxygen to make methane and methanol. All you need to add (in the right combination and process) is nitrogen and hydrogen. Guess what? We have a lot of that stuff – everywhere. Our atmosphere (the air we breathe) is mostly nitrogen (plus oxygen and a lot of other stuff in much smaller amounts). And our water is mostly hydrogen. So why don’t some smart scientists and engineers figure out some way to make methane and methanol from carbon dioxide emissions? I’m sure they can develop a process that works – and then make it efficient and cost effective. That might be a good project to help save the planet – and help build energy independence while we are at it.
A recent report by the American Physical Society “finds that while removing carbon dioxide from ambient air is technically feasible, the cost is likely to remain prohibitively high … The most significant hurdle is the extremely low concentrations of carbon dioxide in air, compared with the stream from a coal-fired power plant or other large emitters … Developing a workable system to capture and sequester carbon emissions directly from power plants is far more pressing … (but) the report had failed to take into account the use of captured carbon dioxide as a feedstock for biofuels, like those made from algae.” One researcher said “If you can grab CO2 from the atmosphere and can do it economically, you can find yourself in the midst of the fuel business.”
It may take a while – and a lot of research money – to develop a practical approach to direct air capture of carbon dioxide, but this could be an attractive source of alternative fuels. After all, the Space Shuttle Program was also expensive – but America made it happen.
Think about it!
All Rights Reserved © 2011 Henry P. Mitchell