A US firm is currently refining a carbon conversion process called Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide, which could be a viable alternative to other methods aimed at reducing the amount of CO2 released during industrial fossil fuel burning and other emission-producing activities.

While Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies are expected to become a valuable tool in the fight against climate change, their associated cost has stopped them being utilised on a wide scale, so far at least.  CCS technologies work by separating the carbon emissions generated by industrial activities and storing them underground.  One environmental firm in the US, however, is presently developing an alternative to the CCS process, creating carbon conversion technology that can convert carbon dioxide into formic acid – the same type of acid that some types of ant release to defend themselves.

Electroreduction Technology

The company developing this so-called ERC (Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide) technique is Seattle-based environmental organisation Mantra Venture Group.  The group’s chief executive officer Larry Kristof states that the electroreduction technology involves the use of a solution of salt water, electricity and platinum - the last of which speeds the reaction up – and points to petrol production facilities, coal burning plants and cement production sites as locations where ERC could take place.  Basically, the CO2 is mixed with water and electricity, and the resultant chemicals produced include formic acid, but also methanol, oxalic acid and formate salts.

Carbon Recycling

Formic acid is already in widespread use within a number of industries.  In aviation, it is used to remove ice from aircraft, while it also figures within the rubber and pharmaceutical industries.  As a source of energy, it could also be used to power electronic devices like iPods or mobile phones – a carbon recycling process as opposed to a carbon storage process that prevents the gas from entering the atmosphere.

As well as being an energy source, formic acid could also be utilised in the “steel pickling” process – which is where some types of steel are deoxidised.  Hydrochloric acid is presently used for steel pickling, but, says Kristof, formic acid would offer a biodegradable option to this.

ERC technology was developed by Canada’s University of British Columbia, and Mantra took it over two years ago.  Last month, the British Columbian government provided the group with a $75,000 grant to take the technology forward.  Current plans include constructing sites in Germany and in Korea and, while these will be comparatively small-scale, larger facilities are projected for three years time.