A Renewable Twist on Fossil Fuels

Scientists attribute global warming, an increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface to increased levels of greenhouse gases. Man’s increased use of fossil fuels, industrialization, pollution and deforestation have created much more greenhouse gases which in turn has caused the temperature on Earth to increase at a faster rate than ever before. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that has contributed to global warning. Scientists are researching ways to reduce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

Joel Rosenthal, a chemist at the University of Delaware, is working on a method to transform carbon dioxide into gas for cars and a source of clean energy fuels. If he succeeds, we will be able to reduce the rising carbon dioxide levels responsible for global warming and also devise a method of creating renewable energy production. Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a consortium of 98 Ph.D. granting universities has selected Joel Rosenthal to receive the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award to pursue his research into turning carbon dioxide into a useful fuel. Rosenthal and his team are designing electrocatalysts from metals such as nickel and palladium that will freely give away electrons when they react with carbon dioxide. This will chemically reduce this greenhouse gas into an energy-rich carbon monoxide or methanol which in turn could be used as a basis for fuel production.

I am very interested in seeing if Joel Rosenthal and his team succeed in turning carbon dioxide into a new fuel source. His research is very important not only in providing a new fuel source but for the reduction of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas attributed to global warming.

Resources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505162938.htm