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Bill USA

(6,436 posts)
Thu Oct 30, 2014, 07:04 PM Oct 2014

Stanford scientists develop a process & catalyst for making ethanol from Carbon monoxide & water

http://rt.com/usa/stanford-study-copper-ethanol-728/
The researchers disclosed their discovery in the latest online edition of the journal Nature, and in it they say that in less than three years’ time they expect to have a prototype device ready that will make biofuel from using not much more than carbon monoxide, easily derived from carbon dioxide.

"We have discovered the first metal catalyst that can produce appreciable amounts of ethanol from carbon monoxide at room temperature and pressure – a notoriously difficult electrochemical reaction," wrote Stanford’s Matthew Kanan, a co-author of the report released this week.

The scientists say that they are still a ways from developing said prototype, but believe they are on the right track towards achieving a goal that has the potential of providing people with a new, less-costly biofuel that could essentially revamp the energy industry.

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...the researchers say that biofuel would be generated by using a state-of-the-art device still in development that uses two electrodes, including one made of an "oxide-derived copper," to convert it into fuel.


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Stanford scientists develop a process & catalyst for making ethanol from Carbon monoxide & water (Original Post) Bill USA Oct 2014 OP
The story is from April OKIsItJustMe Oct 2014 #1
Free Ethanol! It's a plug-in party machine! nilram Oct 2014 #2
"Easily derived" -- just add lots of energy. eppur_se_muova Oct 2014 #3
Stanford University scientists have found a new, highly efficient way to produce liquid ethanol from Bill USA Nov 2014 #4

Bill USA

(6,436 posts)
4. Stanford University scientists have found a new, highly efficient way to produce liquid ethanol from
Sat Nov 1, 2014, 05:32 PM
Nov 2014

carbon monoxide gas.

Note the words "highly efficient"


http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/april/ethanol-without-plants-040914.html

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I think the whole point of their research was to come up with a process that would yield a renewable fuel that is efficient ... and therefore worth pursuing.

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