r/SpaceXLounge • u/aigarius • Aug 06 '20

Turning carbon dioxide into liquid fuel

https://www.anl.gov/article/turning-carbon-dioxide-into-liquid-fuel
6 Upvotes

69% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/ConfidentFlorida Aug 06 '20

How does this compare to the sabretuer (sp) reaction?

3

u/navytech56 Aug 07 '20

This new paper makes ethanol. It's for atmospheric CO2 -> ethanol fuel here on earth and doesn't really apply to making methane from the Martian atmosphere.

2

u/Factor1357 Aug 07 '20

It’s “Sabatier” since you’re asking.

2

u/frowawayduh Aug 07 '20

You would need additional steps to convert ethanol (C2H5-OH) to methane (CH4). One technique is to “reform” ethanol with steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen, then catalytically reduce those to methane plus oxygen. Separate those two by chilling to condense the methane first, then the oxygen. These are all well developed processes.

1

u/hoardsbane Aug 07 '20

Any chance of a similar catalyzed low temperature and pressure CO2 and water to methane reaction - a low equipment alternative to Sabatier, without the electrolysis... ?