We enclose herein even more confirmation that the potential exists to recycle Carbon Dioxide into materials of genuine utility and value. We don't have to punish our vital Coal-use industries, through Cap&Trade taxation schemes or Geologic Sequestration scams, because they produce it for us.
Argentina & Spain Recycle CO2
Comment follows abbreviated excerpts from:
"Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide; Journal of the Argentine Chemical Society
Date: June, 2003
Author: S. Pettinicchi, et. al.
Affiliations: Universidad Nacional del Santiago, Argentina; and, Universidad de la Laguna, Spain
Abstract: The electrochemical reduction of CO2 using Cu-Zn alloy electrodes (and) analysis of the reduction products ... shows the presence of alcohols and hydrocarbons. Methanol, ethanol, acetone, methane, ethane and ethylene were detected. The products depend on the electrode potential and electrolytic solution.
Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to useful products is ... a promising approach ... .
Conclusion: The Cu-Zn alloy ... seems to be an adequate catalyst for the carbon dioxide reduction."
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First, in this case, reference to "carbon dioxide reduction" means, in plainer terms, the chemical transformation of Carbon Dioxide into a more reactive compound, not the purely physical reduction in amounts, or volumes, of Carbon Dioxide.
The complete document is, of course, much more thorough, and might provide the more technically-minded among our readers with some interesting or enlightening details.
But, the basics are clear:
We can electrolyze water solutions of Carbon Dioxide, as we could obtain from smokestack scrubbers, and thereby synthesize "alcohols and hydrocarbons".
Yes, we would have to spend some money to get it done. But, by then selling the Methanol, we would get at least some of that money back.