Methane plus carbon dioxide equals glucose?

Question

3CH4 + 3CO2 = C6H12O6

Can this be done on a global scale to remove two of the worst greenhouse gases around? Without cutting down any trees?

Answer 1

worst greenhouse gasses, no.
most common greenhouse gasses, yes.

Your reaction is balanced, but I believe it would take GADS of energy since the chemical structure of glucose is vastly different than methane and carbon dioxide.

Meaning, that the bonds in glucose are a carbon ring with hydrogen and hydroxides like this:
http://sps.k12.ar.us/massengale/glucose.gif

Whereas methane has a central carbon with 4 hydrogen bonds. Elementally, you would have to completely strip the methane of it's hydrogen, and the oxygen from the CO2. Then partially oxidize the hydrogen, form the carbon chain, then make the sugar. There would be a severe energy loss, but it is an interesting concept.

Answer 2

Unfortunately just mixing the two together has no effect, a catalyst or energy would be required to initiate the reaction. In order to do this it would first be necessary to remove the CH4 and CO2 from the atmosphere which kind of defeats the object.

However, processes along similar lines are being considered. The frontrunner being similar to the scrubbers that are used in smokestacks to remove pollutants before the emissions are released into the atmosphere.

This would involve using sodium hydroxide, a deliquescent that reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide to produce sodium carbonate (washing soda) and water. Tests have already been run and shown to be successful.

Answer 3

Besides the energy issue, glucose, like many organic molecules, exists in both a right hand and left hand stereo isomers. Only the right hand isomer has any value as food. Since the free energy of formation is the same for either isomer, they are formed in equal amounts unless some type of stereo specific catalyst is used to force the reaction to one or the other.

Answer 4

Yes.

3CH4 + 9O2 -> 3CO2 + 6H2O (methanotrophic organisms)

3CO2 + 6H2O + 3CO2 -> C6H12O6 (photosynthetic organisms)

We have known about methanotrophs for over a hundred years.
http://jb.asm.org/cgi/content/full/187/13/4303

Answer 5

If you can figure how to economically add sufficient energy and set the right conditions to make these two VERY stable compounds join in such a way, we'll contact the Nobel Institute.

Answer 6

You're missing an ingredient:

Methane + carbon dioxide + energy equals glucose.

You need energy to make the reaction proceed. The details of how that would work are the problem. It could maybe work, but it's not simple.

Answer 7

Glucose To Carbon Dioxide

Answer 8

I don't think we should manipulate nature any more than we already have. That's never the answer, just like those idiots who wanted to put junk into the ocean to "combat global warming." Bad, bad idea.

Answer 9

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) ===> CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) + Heat of combustion.. (Gives water vapour due to heat of reaction).

Answer 10

Water + CO2 = vegetation.
And that will happen naturally to mitigate our excess CO2.