Scientists convert factory CO2 into carbon monoxide using organic electrolytes
Scientists have developed a clever new way to turn factory carbon emissions into valuable chemicals instead of just letting them pollute the air.
Their method, called "direct reactive capture," uses special organic electrolytes to convert untreated CO2 straight into carbon monoxide, a key ingredient for making fuels and other products, without needing any complicated gas cleanup.
Reached 5.5% solar to fuel efficiency
Tested on simulated factory exhaust, the process worked nearly perfectly for over 100 hours and kept energy use reasonable.
Even better, when paired with a high-efficiency solar cell, it reached a solid 5.5% solar-to-fuel efficiency.
This breakthrough could help big polluters like steel and cement plants shrink their carbon footprint while creating something useful from their emissions, a win-win for industry and the environment.