Global Carbon Dioxide Recycling

Abstract

The fuel synthesis from renewable energy must be performed by simple technologies without requiring the sophisticated system, because the fuel synthesis must be done in the whole world. We succeeded to create effective catalysts on which carbon dioxide was rapidly converted to synthesized natural gas, methane by the reaction with hydrogen at ambient pressure with almost 100% methane selectivity. On the basis of finding of the catalyst for carbon dioxide methanation we made a proposal of global carbon dioxide recycling, consisting of hydrogen production by water electrolysis using electricity generated from renewable energy, carbon dioxide methanation by the reaction with hydrogen, methane combustion and capture of carbon dioxide which will be sent back to the carbon dioxide methanation plant. Realization of global carbon dioxide recycling will lead the world to use renewable energy forever without emitting carbon dioxide into atmosphere. We started the study of key materials for global carbon dioxide recycling about 30 years ago.