Scientists have created a catalyst that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide to ethylene, which is used to produce the most common type of plastic. At the heart of this work is the carbon dioxide reduction reaction, wherein CO2 is converted into other chemicals through the use of an electrical current and a chemical reaction, aided by a catalyst. Only copper can produce ethylene, the core component of polyethylene plastic. Researchers were able to design a catalyst and pinpoint the ideal conditions to maximise ethylene production, while minimising the methane output to nearly nothing. By identifying the precise conditions that maximise ethylene production during the reaction, it is possible to engineer a catalyst to meet those conditions.

Source: dna January 17, 2018 01:18 UTC