For the first time, they learned how to convert carbon dioxide directly to methanol.

For the first time, scientists were able to convert carbon dioxide directly into methanol, which can be used as combustible fuel or raw material for the production of plastic. This means that the excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that has accumulated due to the burning of fossil fuels can not only be removed from the atmosphere, but also put into action.

Researchers at the University of Southern California managed to find a homogeneous catalyst for the conversion of CO ₂ to CH ₃ OH - that is, a catalyst in the same phase as the reactants.

The catalyst is a solution containing a ruthenium metal. The study of the possibility of using ruthenium as a homogeneous catalyst was started four years ago. And then a reaction with this catalyst finally became possible.

The reaction takes place at a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the catalyst calmly withstands such a temperature, is practically not consumed, and can be reused repeatedly. A high reaction rate is achieved, and the proportion of converted carbon dioxide reaches 79%. The resulting methanol is dissolved in water, but can be easily recovered through distillation.

“Developing a stable catalyst for converting carbon dioxide to methanol was a challenge,” says lead author, Surya Prakash. - Most catalysts only reach the stage of formic acid formation. In addition, a catalyst was needed that provided a direct conversion of the starting materials to methanol. And we solved both problems. ”

Scientists hope that their work will help in the near future to organize the artificial carbon dioxide cycle in nature, to help the natural. In nature, carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and marine plankton, but excessive human burning of fossil fuels leads to the fact that natural processes can not cope with excess gas. It is believed that CO ₂ is a greenhouse gas and leads to the fact that the atmosphere and surface of the planet is gradually heated - the so-called "global warming".

Ruthenium is an element of a side subgroup of the eighth group of the fifth period of the periodic system of chemical elements, atomic number is 44. The simple substance of ruthenium is a silver transition metal. Refers to platinum metals. Ruthenium discoverer K.K. Klaus named the element in honor of Russia (Ruthenia - Latin name for Rus / Russia).