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Electricity turns to alcohol

09.04.2012

Scientists from the University of California have found a way to turn electricity into an alternative fuel. This could solve the problem of storing electricity from renewable sources and unsustainable gasoline vehicles.

An electric car is the ideal eco-friendly vehicle. But imperfect batteries severely limit the range and capabilities of electric vehicles. Scientists at the University of California have demonstrated for the first time a method to convert carbon dioxide using electricity into the liquid fuel isobutanol. Thus, it became possible to turn electricity into a familiar chemical fuel.

Today, electricity generated by various methods is still difficult to store efficiently. Chemical accumulators, hydraulic pumps, water splitting have low efficiency and are incompatible with modern transport infrastructure. But if you turn electricity into liquid fuel, you can achieve really high energy storage density. In addition, it is then possible to switch to using electricity as a fuel for transport without having to change the existing infrastructure.

Scientists propose a new method for converting electrical energy into chemical energy, stored as alcohol, which can be used to fill cars. This was achieved with the help of genetically modified Ralstonia eutropha H16 microorganisms, which were "taught" to produce isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol. This uses a bioreactor, carbon dioxide as the only source of carbon, and electricity.

The process is based on photosynthesis. As you know, photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy into chemical energy. There are two stages of photosynthesis - a light reaction and a reaction in the dark. The light reaction converts light energy into chemical energy and takes place in the light. The second step of photosynthesis, the conversion of CO2 into sugar, does not require light. Scientists have been able to separate the two steps of photosynthesis: instead of using biological photosynthesis, convert sunlight into electrical energy (using solar panels) and then capture carbon dioxide to make fuel.

This method is more efficient than similar processes in natural biological systems. Thus, for the production of fuel in this process, large areas under crops are not required, as is the case with traditional biofuels. Since the main reaction takes place in the dark, the bioreactor with bacteria can be placed anywhere, and the solar panels can be placed on the roof of a building or in the desert.

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