The new catalyst produces methanol from CO2

(Lavoctv) - Laval University researchers have developed a highly effective method to convert CO ₂ into methanol, a substance that can be used as a low-emissions fuel for vehicles. carriage. The research team led by Professor Frédéric-Georges Fontaine recently presented the details of this discovery in the journal of the American Chemical Society.

Researchers are looking for a way to convert carbon dioxide into methanol in a single step using energy-saving processes for years.'While there is oxygen, methanol burns CO2 and water,' explains Professor Fontaine. 'Chemists looking for catalysts can cause reversal reactions. That will help humans cut greenhouse gas emissions by, synthesizing a fuel that helps us reduce our reliance on fossil fuel fish. '

The catalyst was developed by Professor Frédéric-Georges Fontaine and his colleagues were made up of two chemical groups. The first group is borane, a compound of boron, carbon and hydrogen. The second group, phosphine, is made of phosphorus, carbon and hydrogen.'Unlike other catalysts that convert CO2 into methanol, our catalyst does not contain metals, which reduces the cost and toxicity of catalysts' , chemistry professor at the Faculty. Laval School of Science and Technology said.

The catalytic conversion of CO2 into methanol requires a hydrogen source and chemical energy. The researchers had the idea of ​​using a compound called hydroborane (BH ₃ ) , and the results were spectacular. The reaction is twice as effective as the best known catalyst - and it emits less waste. What makes this discovery even more interesting is the fact that the chemical reaction does not damage the catalyst, so it can be reactivated by adding a new substrate.

The only downside of this reaction is the price.'Our approach is to produce highly effective methanol based on chemical reactions, but now the process is still very expensive,' explains Professor Fontaine. 'It takes a lot of energy to synthesize hydroborane, which makes methanol more expensive than regular methanol. We are studying, working on this way to make the process more economical by optimizing reactions and finding other hydrogen sources. "