We talk often of the benefits of burning ethanol over petroleum-based fuels but what of methanol? The initial benefits may not seem overwhelming but there is a major advantage that is just now being explored. Methanol production requires CO2 which is more commonly known as carbon dioxide- the stuff we exhale. There is extensive research taking place at present in effort to design an engine that converts the necessary CO2 for methanol production not from a tank but from the very air around us!<\/p>\n
Sounds good right? But stop to really think about the abundance of CO2 in the air, not only do we carbon-based life forms exhale the stuff every single time we take a breath, but its also comes rolling out of the smokestacks of most all powerplants\/ industrial facilities.<\/p>\n
About the biggest disadvantage to CO2 conversion is the carbon dioxide is heavy. Just how heavy are we talking? About triple the weight of gasoline per energy output. A tank load of this stuff would be awfully hard to transport. The bottom line is taking the necessary CO2 right out of the air makes an awful lot of sense!<\/p>\n
Ethanol, hydrogen, bacteria and cellulosic biofuels all have some serious potential as alternatives to petroleum but this latest venture could push methanol right up there in the hunt.
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