New non-toxic organic photocatalyst capture CO2 and convert it into methane

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Last Updated30/10/2021

Indian Scientists have designed a cost-effective metal-free catalyst to convert carbon dioxide to methane by absorption of visible light.
A photochemical method is a chemical reaction initiated by the absorption of energy in the form of light.

Methane is gas that is found in small quantities in Earth's atmosphere.
It is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH4).
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. It is flammable, and is used as a fuel worldwide.
Methane is produced by the breakdown or decay of organic material and can be introduced into the atmosphere by either natural processes – such as the decay of plant material in wetlands, the seepage of gas from underground deposits or the digestion of food by cattle – or human activities – such as oil and gas production, rice farming or waste management.
Methane is called marsh gas because it is found at the surface of marshy places

It is an important source of hydrogen and some organic chemicals.
It reacts with steam at high temperatures to yield carbon monoxide and hydrogen; the latter is used in the manufacture of ammonia for fertilizers and explosives.
Other valuable chemicals derived from methane include methanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and nitromethane.
The incomplete combustion of methane yields carbon black, which is widely used as a reinforcing agent in rubber used for automobile tires.

It is 84 times more potent than carbon and doesn’t last as long in the atmosphere before it breaks down. This makes it a critical target for reducing global warming more quickly while simultaneously working to reduce other greenhouse gases.
It is responsible for creating ground-level ozone, a dangerous air pollutant.

There are several ways in which CO2 can be reduced, including photochemical, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical, photothermal, and so on.
The photochemical process utilizes solar light as a renewable energy source.
Most catalysts contain toxic and expensive metal counterparts. The Indian scientists’ team designed a metal-free porous organic polymer to overcome this drawback.
The polymer is designed to absorb visible light and catalyse the reaction which reduces CO2.
The catalyst has a chemical called the conjugated microporous polymer (CMP).
This could uptake CO2 onto its surface due to its high CO2 intake capability at room temperature, converting it into methane as a value-added product.
It is a cost-effective, metal free system which can produce methane in large amounts, which serves as a novel technique for efficient carbon-dioxide capture and reduction.