Consider a small dia. wind mill turning a 12 volt dynamo or alternator producing 12volt DC feeding an electrolytic cell to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen would be allowed to vent to atmosphere. Could the hydrogen be piped to a reaction vessel and be induced to react with carbon dioxide. If my 50yo Chemistry A level is correctly remembered.
6H2 +4CO2 =2C2H5(OH) +3O2
Whilst this balances, I don’t know is if such a reaction is possible and if it is, what conditions and catalysts are required to produce it. It may require large scale units and high pressures/temperatures to react. It may require copious amounts of energy which renders the whole exercise fruitless.
The carbon dioxide could be the product of fermentation of organic matter so the process would be carbon neutral and renewable.
I would like to hope that it could be designed so there would be very little free hydrogen within the reaction vessel to cause hazard.
Could it be possible to produce the bigger chain al
2006-10-25 00:26:43 · 8 answers · asked by Paul G 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
No this reaction is impossible. Alcohol is an organic compound, which generally have exreemly complex reaction mechenisms.
2006-10-25 00:30:23 · answer #1 · answered by invincibleshield 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There has been some research on reducing the carbonate ion (resulting from CO2 in water) to formate ion by electrochemical methods. Certainly that could be converted into formic acid.
Reduction of CO2 to methanol with hydrogen under pressure would require better catalysts than currently available. It is likely that the required pressures would make the production equipment expensive as well.
2006-10-25 06:16:11 · answer #2 · answered by Richard 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rather than use the fermentation reaction to produce carbon dioxide, why not have a think about the other product in fermentation? Ethanol!!
C6 H12O6 --> 2C2H5OH + 2 CO2
2006-10-25 00:35:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are right the equation balances but this is not likely to react in that manner, formation of water and carbon be more likely. You would be better off ferementing the organic matter to produce alcohols.
2006-10-25 00:45:13 · answer #4 · answered by Ellie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Given the right catalysts and conditions yes it would be possible as the product can be made from the reactants-h2o+co2-->glucose--->ethanol by the enzymes in yeast.
2006-10-25 05:06:10 · answer #5 · answered by zebbedee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think water is a more likely product. Besides it probably wouldn't be carbon neutral as you will have to get ur hydrogen from somewhere.
2006-10-25 01:34:04 · answer #6 · answered by Thesmileyman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting! Better watch out, the oil industry will be knocking at your door soon!
2006-10-25 00:29:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
agreed...this reaction will not happen
2006-10-25 04:28:17 · answer #8 · answered by The Cheminator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋