Energy Citations Database (ECD) - - Document #7110207
We earlier reported that Japan had developed it's own technology, somewhat different from the Sabatier technique, to convert Carbon Dioxide into Methane, whose utility as a raw material for synthesizing liquid fuels, and as an agent for the recycling of additional Carbon Dioxide, we have amply documented. Our report of that technology is now published on the West Virginia Coal Association's web site as "Japan Converts CO2 to Methane".
Herein, via the above link and following excerpt, we learn that Japan has also developed efficient technology to recycle Carbon Dioxide directly into the versatile liquid fuel, and gasoline synthesis raw material, Methanol.
Comment follows excerpts from the enclosed link:
"Title: Electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol
Author: Kuwabata Susumu, et. al.; Osaka University, Japan
Date: June 1994
Publication: Journal of the American Chemical Society; Volume 116: 12
Abstract: Electrolysis at potentials between -0.7 and -0.9 V vs SCE of carbon dioxide-saturated phosphate buffer solutions (pH7) containing formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and either methyl viologen or pyrroloquinolinequinone (PQQ) as an electron mediator yielded formate with current efficiencies as high as 90%. The enzyme was durable as long as the electrolysis was carried out in the dark. Electrolysis of phosphate buffer solutions containing sodium formate in the presence of methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) and MV[sup 2+] at -0.7 V vs SCE yielded formaldehyde if the concentration of the enzyme used was low, whereas both formaldehyde and methanol were produced for relatively high concentrations of the enzyme where the methanol production began to occur when the formaldehyde produced accumulated. The use of PQQ ... as the electron mediator exclusively produced methanol alone after some induction period in the electrolysis. On the basis of these results, successful attempts have been made to reduce carbon dioxide to methanol with cooperative assistance of FDH and MDH in the presence of PQQ as the electron mediator."
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All the "FDH's" and "PQQ's" aside, Japan has developed a "durable" enzyme system to convert Carbon Dioxide, with electric current conversion "efficiencies as high as 90%", through a number of steps, into the liquid fuel, Methanol.
This research confirms other reports we've made documenting the use of electricity to assist in the catalytic, or, as herein, enzymatic, energy-efficient and electricity-powered conversion of Carbon Dioxide into valuable products such as Methane and Methanol, both of which, as we have from many sources documented, can, through a variety of established - patented and trademarked - technologies, be converted into Gasoline.
And, again, where, in the world, do you suppose, we could find some spare electricity and a little Carbon Dioxide?
