Is it possible for anything to run off of our pollution?

Question

I'm watching Futurama right now. Mom made a new robot that runs off of the pollutions the current robots emit. (Sorry if you don't watch Futurama, but I'm sure you get the idea).

Anyway, is it at all possible for something to be made that runs off of pollution..Like Carbon Dioxide or something?

Just curious.

Ohh and doesn't give off any sort of bad gasses(the robot Mom made gave off a fresh pine scent lol).

I know of all the popular alternate engergy resources, so don't worry about explaining those to me :)

I don't feel like choosing..I'll let it get voted on

Answer 1

I watch futurama all the time i didn't see that one . I did see the one that the robots where making all the pollution and at the end all the robots got together and farted pushing the earth farther from the sun

Answer 2

No, its not. Here's why:

There's two basic types of chemical reactions: 1) endothermic (you have to add energy to make the reaction take place) and 2) exothermic (the reaction gives off energy).

Now, burning coal, oil, etc is exothermic--the oxygen in the air combines withthe hydrocarbons (gasoline or kerosine, usually) and produces CO2 (and other pollutants)--plus excess energy in the form of heat. That excess energy is what moves cars, runs machines, etc.

Now--think about this (and I am oversimplifying this a bit, but this gives you the general idea)--the CO2 is a waste product--a molecule formed by releasing energy. So, not surprisingly, in order for it to react with most things, you have to ADD energy. In other words, most CO2 reactions are endothermic--and are no good for running a car or any other machine, because the reaction wouldn't be givig off any excess energy.

Now--just to be scientifically correct, there are some complex chemical reactions that CO2 can undergo that are exothermic--but they mostly don't produce enough energy to do any good--and DO produce new molecules (called reaction products, BTW) that are pollutants temselves.

Answer 3

Just to argue in favor, Futurama robots run off alcohol. If the alcohol is not burned (see combustion) but rather mimics human metabolization of alcohol, one posible reaction for that process could be
C2H5OH + O2 => HC2H3O2 + H2O
meaning that the robots 'pollution' is vinegar.
that could be consumed in another reaction.

Answer 4

Methane is given off of our garbage dumps and sewage. It can be used. Some third world countries it is used for lighting and cooking.

Vast amounts of methane is given off in swamps and in the melting permafrost of the north. It can be collected and used.

Photosynthesis produces waste oxygen and we like to use that. Let's follow nature.

Answer 5

in case you have room to maintain non ferrous metals- aluminum, brass, copper then do till the marketplace improves. My city used to get around $a hundred and forty a ton for newsprint- now they ought to pay somebody $10 to take each and every ton. wish I had a dry place to shop it for a 300 and sixty 5 days or so...

Answer 6

O.o dudette you have an awesome point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIP HIP HORRAY!!!!!!!!!! finally someone who thinx outside the box ;D

Answer 7

Sure, liberal politicians, socialists, and neo-Luddites are doing it today.

Answer 8

yes, solid natural waste.. methane,