A new study published in Nature Synthesis by chemists at Yale University and the University of California-Berkeley details a two-step process to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air into carbohydrates.
Process Overview
The method utilizes renewable electricity to transform CO2 into long-chain carbohydrates, which are molecules containing five or six carbon atoms. This expands upon previous research that converted CO2 into simpler molecules like methanol and formate.
Yale Professor Hailiang Wang, a co-corresponding author, indicated the aim was to develop conversions for more complex and valuable products.
The Two-Step Mechanism
The process begins with an electrochemical reaction designed to convert CO2. This reaction is halted at an intermediate formaldehyde stage. Formaldehyde is then stabilized by converting it into hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS). Subsequently, HMS undergoes a thermochemical reaction to yield carbohydrates.
Potential Applications
The carbohydrates produced, such as synthetic sugars, could be used for agricultural feedstocks and sweeteners. Beyond agriculture and food production, the chemical process may find applications in drug design and biotechnology. This development also offers environmental benefits by providing a method for CO2 removal.
Future Developments
Researchers plan to refine the process and are pursuing a patent application. The study involved co-authors from both Yale and UC-Berkeley and received support from the National Science Foundation, a National Brown Investigator Award, and the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture.