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This news could be very important to the manufacture of oxygen and hydrocarbon fuels on Mars.
Researchers invent novel catalyst to convert carbon dioxide
"It is possible to build a rational and humane culture completely free from the threat of supernatural restraints." Arthur C. Clarke, The Songs of Distant Earth
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The first line says University of Amsterdam (UvA) have invented a new catalyst that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO). We are to assume that the equation yields a free Oxygen molecule...
'It was an accidental discovery'....to convert CO2 at ambient pressure and low temperatures.
There is also some other related stories as https://phys.org/news/2015-08-capturing-co2.html
https://phys.org/news/2015-08-copper-cl … oxide.html
New molecular catalyst for artificial photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide directly into ethylene glycol September 2, 2015
Toshiba has developed a prototype of a highly efficient molecular catalyst that converts carbon dioxide into ethylene glycol, a useful industrial raw material, without producing other and unwanted by-products.
https://phys.org/news/2015-09-molecular … arbon.html
Closing the carbon loop: Team identifies new catalyst that advances capture, conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide December 7, 2016
Research at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering focused on developing a new catalyst that would lead to large-scale implementation of capture and conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) was recently published ...
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Here is another Elemental boron is an effective photothermocatalyst for the conversion of carbon dioxide
A "self-heating" boron catalyst that makes particularly efficient use of sunlight to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) serves as a light harvester, photothermal converter, hydrogen generator, and catalyst in one.
The researchers want to use this ordinary photothermic effect to increase the efficiency of catalytic systems. Their material of choice is powdered elemental boron, which very strongly absorbs sunlight and efficiently converts it photothermically, heating itself up remarkably. This allowed the team to carry out the efficient reduction of CO2 to form carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) under irradiation in the presence of water, with no additional reagents or co-catalysts.
Irradiation causes the boron particles to heat up to about 378 °C. At this temperature it reacts with water, forming hydrogen and boron oxides in situ. The boron oxides act as "traps" for CO2 molecules. The hydrogen is highly reactive and, in the presence of the light-activated boron catalyst, efficiently reduces the CO2 by providing the necessary protons (H+) and electrons.
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OK.. it's a mazing how a few keystrokes can render different results.
With Low Temp plasma Techniques, we get two things we can work with
1. Dry Reforming of Methane Using Plasma-Catalysis
2. Methanation of CO2
Below 200 degrees (F), High Voltage Plasma, and a Nickel Coated Anode,
these things are possible, right now as we speak.
THIS would be yet ANOTHER excellent working experiment at the MDRS.
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