How to oxidize atmospheric CH(4)?--A challenge for the future
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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

CO2 Photoreduction to CH4 Performance Under Concentrating Solar Light
Published on: June 12, 2019
Bruno Chazelas1, Alain Léger, Marc Ollivier
1Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS, bat 121, Univ. Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay, France. bruno.chazelas@ias.u-psud.fr
Abstract:
Methane is an active Greenhouse effect gas whose concentration will likely increase in the future. The possible destabilisation of CH4 clathrates (hydrates) due to anthropogenic climate warming, and the resulting outgasing of methane, could lead to a major increase of the global Greenhouse effect, with dramatic consequences for Humanity. For these reasons, the study of possible countermeasures should be actively considered. Here, we suggest taking advantage of the thermodynamic instability of CH4 in air, and search for ways to oxidize it.
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