Scientists at UC San Diego invent device to STOP global warming

[Holly_Hobby]

or so this article says....

Scientists invent device to stop Global Warming

Chemists at the University of California, San Diego have created a device that uses sunlight to transform harmful CO2 gas into fuel that could replace all the gasoline used in transportation.

Clifford Kubiak, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and Aaron Sathrum have developed a prototype device that can capture energy from the sun, convert it to electrical energy and “split” carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen.

The amazing process produces CO (carbon monoxide) which can be processed by bacterial fermentation to produce ethanol, and massive amounts industrial chemicals used to produce plastics. By splitting CO2 you can save fuel, produce useful chemicals and eliminate global warming greenhouse gases.

...

http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/nextnews7.16b.html

[BrotherBuzz]

1. Chemists at the University of California, San Diego are mentioned

What role is UC Davis doing in this work?

[Holly_Hobby]

4. Ooops.....I'll edit n/t

[Aviation Pro]

2. Damn liberal scientists......

...always thinking of something to help the human race.

[SpiralHawk]

26. "No mention of this in the Bible, so can't be good." - Republicon Fundies

"Burn these scientists while All of Us Holy Ones enjoy the Rapture."

- Sen. David Vitter (R - Diaper)

[madinmaryland]

3. It produces carbon monoxide??

:shrug: Is that any better?

[Holly_Hobby]

5. Yeah.....someone needs to explain how this is better n/t

[moggie]

6. It's right there in the OP!

The amazing process produces CO (carbon monoxide) which can be processed by bacterial fermentation to produce ethanol

[mopinko]

7. then they use that. nt

[Buzz Clik]

8. Carbon monoxide can then be re-oxidized for energy.

Carbon monoxide is a typical energy source in a lot of industrial processes. It won't be released; it will be "burned."

Of course, after burning, we'll have CO₂ again, but this is certainly progress.

[Holly_Hobby]

9. Thanks

I knew someone here could explain it.

[karlrschneider]

10. I don't see any explanation of how they think they can get back more energy

by oxidizing CO than it took to dissociate the CO2. :eyes:
Bacterial fermentation is how wine has been made for centuries...

[lynnertic]

12. The device uses sunlight to dissociate CO2.

[karlrschneider]

19. Yes, I understand that. I just don't see how it's commercially efficient.

...

[EstimatedProphet]

24. It wouldn't get back more energy, however, think of it this way...

What they've developed is basically a photosynthesis machine. It is a way of trapping sunlight as ethanol.

[FogerRox]

20. The same sunlight can go into a solar panel to generate electricity

1st law of thermodynamics says that when you split the Co2 bonds, thats called work, it takes energy to create work/heat. So the resultant product cannot hold more or the same energy, it must contain less energy.

It makes far more sense to use the electricity in, say, electric cars, skipping the loss induced by splitting the molecular bonds in Co2.

[EstimatedProphet]

25. But a solar panel won't break down CO2

That's the other benefit besides energy. The energy loss is worth it because 1) it takes CO2 out of the atmosphere, and 2) it uses a virtually unlimited power source to do it.

[FogerRox]

28. From what I read what they are doing is

cobbling a PV panel to a Co2 scrubber, that works on a very small scale, it needs to mass producerd on a very large scale. Instead of squestering the C02, which is problematic, they opt for the not so crazy option of breaking the Co2 down to CO. SO then the question is what does one do with a crap load of CO?

Make plastic. and what do we do with all the plastic ? We are talking about 100's maybe 1000's of giga tons of Co2, or roughly half the Co2 put into the atmosphere over the last 100 yrs....

which represents a quarter of the worlds oil, plus nearly a quarter of the worlds coal, ever taken out of the ground.

Thats a fucking lot of plastic.........

I see a problem here, how about you ?

I see a far more reasonable solution here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/27/213841/746

[superkia]

13. Where do you think this will go?

I think there are 3 options :

1 Scientists cant figure out how to bring it to production but somehow still get filthy rich and are never heard from again.


2 Scientists have horrible accident and lose all information( or die? )


3 Something that looks to be great becomes something great!


I'm pulling for number 3 and umm I didn't put those in any particular order. I know I shouldn't put a negative look to it, it would be outstanding to see something like this done so that after we the people take back our country, we will be able to survive mother nature and continue our dream.

[karlrschneider]

17. Yeah 3 would be great if it really works. I see where you're coming from though...

(I think)...maybe the 'cold fusion' debacle? (although those guys didn't get rich)...and the 120 MPG carburetor thing?
Maybe I'm totally off base here, however. One thing I do know is that solar radiation amounts to about a kilowatt per square meter under ideal conditions, so there's no way to 'extract' any more than that.

[FogerRox]

21. The entire concept is high school science, and it sucks

they use solar panels to make electricity, electricity is used in what sounds like electrolisys, making H2 from H2o, in this case the making Co from Co2. Except the 1st law of thermodynamics slams the door shut.


Do I have that right....

It makes far more sense to use the solar panels to make electricity and use the electricity, like in homes... or electric cars.

[BrotherBuzz]

14. Winemakers use yeast fermantation to convert sugar to alcohol and CO2

Bacterial fermentation(malolactic fermentation), a secondary fermentation, is a relatively new innovation in the wine industry, and produces little CO2 as it converts malic acid into lactic acid.

[Luke_R]

11. Does anyone know of any studies

showing the effects of large fields of devices producing energy through sunlight? It seems like it could have a twofold benefit. 1. reduces the amount of pollution put into the air
2. reduce the amount of sunlight absorded, lowering tempurature slightly.

On the other hand, maybe in order to convert the sunlight, it has to absord more sunlight, thus increasing the total amount of sunlight/energy absorbed into the earth.

Any ideas?

[immoderate]

15. Same as you... (and welcome to DU)

Fields of solar panels should decrease local temperature, just as fields of windmills should cut down on wind. That energy will get returned to the atmosphere when that stored energy is used.

The main idea though, is to not increase the ampunt of carbon we use in the various cycles. This looks hopeful.

--IMM

[Luke_R]

16. But by using solar energy

would sunlight/heat/energy that would have been reflected back into space be now converted eventually into heat, which will also possibly continue the balance upset?

I agree that it would be better than carbon emissions, but, if, as some theorize, we are past the point of no return, where the earth actually needs our active help, rather than just us minimizing our effects, then would these solar fields further perpetuate the problem, due to the increased energy retention of the earth.

I should add that I am not in any way against renewable energy. I'm just thinking, trying to stay a step ahead.

[immoderate]

22. That's a point to consider.

I'm guessing that sunlight that reaches the surface would mostly be absorbed and heating something, rather than going back into space. Just my guess.

--IMM

[Disturbed]

18. I bet the Oil Corps & all associated are jumpin' joyously.

The ME Oil leaders must also be real happy.

[robertpaulsen]

23. K & R! Hope RFK Jr. gets a look at this.

:hi:

:kick:

[pepperbear]

27. one of the following stories will appear soon after.....

2 UCA professors found dead in an apparent murder suicide pact.

OR

2 UCA professors hired by EXXON/BP to head "global warming panel."

OR

2 UCA professors suspected of falsifying global warming data.

What we WON't see:

"2 UCA professors save world with device that transforms sun into renewable energy source."