Atmospheric CO2 to petrol?

[MRR]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/sc...ss&oref=slogin

Clever concept (which doesn't exist yet unfortunately) which could use CO2 in the atmosphere and synthesize it into more complex hydrocarbon fuels. The only problem is that it would need a completely clean power plant (i.e. non-coal) to keep net CO2 emissions 0. Might not work but it is definately worth researching.

[sleekeywoowoo]

Interesting Read.
Would be very nice if they could do that without making any harmful bi-product.

[NSXType-R]

That was a good read. Very interesting indeed.

It it breaks us off of foreign oils, why not research it, you know?

The only thing is, how would you go around collecting the C02? Would you attach a box to the exhaust pipe and collect it that way? Or do you just make a huge vacuum cleaner that takes up C02 only?

Also, I don't think you end up with the same amount of gasoline you start out with because you've burned off a large majority of the hydrocarbons. Which means that you still need to find an alternative to gasoline. You'll run out of it sooner or later.

Although putting scrubbers at coal plants would be an interesting concept.

Storing C02 underground is retarded. How much can you collect to store it underground.

It's weird that Los Alamos is still operational, working on less destructive projects.

[MRR]

The only thing is, how would you go around collecting the C02? Would you attach a box to the exhaust pipe and collect it that way? Or do you just make a huge vacuum cleaner that takes up C02 only?

The article said they would use a Potassium Carbonate solution which "absorbs" CO2 when air is blown over the water. The problem is a power plant would have to be devoted entirely to producing the synthetic fuels.

[NSXType-R]

The article said they would use a Potassium Carbonate solution which "absorbs" CO2 when air is blown over the water. The problem is a power plant would have to be devoted entirely to producing the synthetic fuels.

So I guess it's collected long after the C02 has been emitted from the tailpipe of the car.