New process to minimize CO2 emissions.

[trekkiedane]

Bayer (you know, the guys that created/make Aspirin and Nivea -and countless other products) have done it again...

This time they've found a catalytic process that'll allow CO2 to be made into polyurethane (the building 'block' of modern life if you will)

Put on your 3D glasses and watch this:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQxcfzcY77k[/yt]​

Or go here and choose 2D and the frame to the left, with the lighting match.

Bayer -of course- isn't the only global player working on this sort of solution to part of the CO2 problem.

Despite the lack of information in the video (there is none beyond the fact that Zink is part of the process) I think it sounds promising.

Imagine buying a new sofa and actually being part of a solution and not just part of a problem.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Sweet. If this becomes a widespread industrial process, then industry could actually reverse the damage it's caused. That would be fitting.

 

[Jadzia]

Catalyst or not, it will take the same energy to assemble the polyurethane, as would be released from burning that polyurethane.

There will only be a net drop in CO2 if the additional energy used to power the plant derives from non-carbon based fuel sources.

Considering how much fossil fuel we use each day, we'd have to be creating a ridiculous amount of this plastic to put a dent in global CO2 emissions.

 

[trekkiedane]

It's hailed as a "dream reaction" for a reason and, as I understand the idea, it should be possible to use 'surplus' energy (say during peak hours of wind turbine production where you actually have more wind generated energy than you're able to send to other consumers.

Allthough... that energy might be put to better use through electrolysis of water and storage of the Hydrogen.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Curse the laws of physics!

 

[trekkiedane]

^Ye cannae change 'em!

 

[RJDiogenes]

Heh.