With Higher Efficiency than Germany
South Korean researchers have successfully increased energy efficiency in converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into gasoline to as high as 65 to 70 percent. They said that the efficiency is 5-10 percentage points higher than that of Germany, which global scientists regard as a standard.
The scientists are Drs. Jun Ki-won and Kim Seok-ki of the Carbon Resources Center of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT). They announced on Dec. 10 that they have successfully identified the reaction mechanism of turning carbon dioxide into gasoline and developed an optimized catalyst, the key to the conversion process.
When carbon dioxide passes through the conversion process, which was developed by the research team, 25 to 30 percent of the gas is made into gasoline. The conversion rate goes up beyond 90 percent through repeated circulation of the remaining gas.
Jun said, “The cost of producing one liter of gasoline through this process is estimated at 2,000 won to 2,500 won.”
KRICT researchers have developed an optimized catalyst by finding out how much steel, copper, and potassium should be used in the direct conversion mechanism.
The direct conversion process can be conducted with a smaller supply of power than an indirect conversion process as it is carried out at a temperature of 300 degrees Celsius, much lower than the 800 degrees Celsius required for the latter.