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!
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.
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!
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.
