Platinum has played a crucial role in the development of a new process which turns pollution into fuel, the Research Information Centre reported yesterday (4th March).

The Electrocatalytic Gas-Phase Conversion of CO2 in Confined Catalysts (ELCAT) exploratory project has been found to successfully convert carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons.

The first phase of the process involves splitting water molecules into protons and electrons in one compartment of a fuel cell, creating energy in the shape of hydrogen and electrons.

However, this needs to be converted in a second phase to something which can be used with high energy-density liquid fuels - which is where the white metal makes its mark.

Carbon nanotubes, which conduct electrons, are placed on the other side of the fuel cell and lined with platinum, which in turn induces a catalytic reaction that reduces carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon compounds.

The news provider describes this strategy as "the key to the success of the process", while highlighting its use of 'soft chemistry', which defeats the requirement of very high temperatures or pressures for energy-intensive reactions.

Linda Perathoner, Project Leader at the University of Messina, told the Research Information Centre: "In ten or so years from now, this application should be under development on an industrial scale."

In the short term, the ELCAT team is looking to focus on extending concept development, Ms Perathoner added.



Source:

Running on pollution! (04/03/09)
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/research-eu/57/article_5727_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=10320