人为化学碳循环为可持续的未来提供了可持续的未来
George A Olah1, G K Surya Prakash, Alain Goeppert
1Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA. olah@usc.edu
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|May 27, 2011
概括
本研究提出了一种可行的二氧化碳 (CO2) 的化学循环利用,以制造燃料和产品,为化石燃料提供可持续的替代品. 这种人为碳循环补充了自然过程,减少了二氧化碳排放和对有限资源的依赖.
科学领域:
- 环境科学与工程环境科学与工程
- 化学工程是化学工程的重要组成部分.
- 可持续能源 可持续能源
背景情况:
- 化石燃料的燃烧释放大量的二氧化碳 (CO2),超过了自然回收能力,并对环境造成伤害.
- 化石燃料的自然形成需要数百万年的时间,使它们成为有限的资源.
- 越来越依赖化石燃料需要能源和碳管理的替代解决方案.
研究的目的:
- 为二氧化碳 (CO2) 提出和详细介绍一个可行的人为化学回收过程.
- 建立一个可持续碳循环的框架,称为甲醇经济.
- 减少人类对不断减少的化石燃料储量的依赖,控制大气中的二氧化碳排放.
主要方法:
- 从各种来源捕获二氧化碳 (CO2),包括工业排放和环境空气,使用吸收技术.
- 捕获的二氧化碳的化学转化为有价值的产品,如甲醇,二甲基乙烯,合成碳化合物和蛋白质.
- 利用可再生能源 (太阳能,风能,地热,核能) 来为合成碳循环提供动力.
主要成果:
- 证明了人类化学碳循环的可行性,该循环补充了自然光合作用.
- 确定了碳捕获和随后的回收过程的关键阶段和方面.
- 展示了从二氧化碳中生产燃料和有价值产品的潜力,创造了一个可持续的替代品.
结论:
- 开发的人为碳循环通过提供可再生燃料和产品提供了可持续的未来.
- 这种方法大大减少了对化石燃料的依赖,并减轻了有害的二氧化碳排放.
- 甲醇经济概念为包括能源安全和气候变化在内的重大全球挑战提供了可行的解决方案.
相关概念视频
What are Biogeochemical Cycles?
The most common elements in organic molecules, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, are only available in the ecosystem in limited amounts. Therefore, these nutrients must be recycled through both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, in processes generally called biogeochemical cycles.
The Carbon Cycle
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
The Phosphorus Cycle
Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.
The Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur, an important element in the chemical makeup of proteins, is recycled through the atmosphere and aquatic and terrestrial environments. Found in the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur is released by decaying organisms, weathered rocks, geothermal vents, volcanos, and burning fossil fuels. It is deposited into the ecosystem, cycled through the biotic community, and either released back into the atmosphere as gas or deposited in marine sediment for long-term storage and eventual...
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...


