How to Make Chemicals from Waste CO2

Curious about renewable fuels? About biofuels? A new series of short videos enables you to take just a few minutes to get a quick review of essentials about renewable fuels.

A series of short, 2-4 minutes (or so) videos instruct on topics such as the wide range of things that can be used to make renewable fuels; making chemicals, including fuels, from waste CO2; retrofitting an old car to use E-85 (85% renewable fuel); the historical, everyday and future uses of renewable fuels; and deeper dives into the benefits of renewable fuels.

The second episode of  “Just A Minute or So about Renewable Fuels” focuses on making chemicals from waste CO2 in a circular economy. 

Students, teachers, or anyone interested in renewables can see in a 3-minute slide presentation narrated by Elizabeth Nesbitt of the U.S. International Trade Commission examples of technologies used to make chemicals used in cement production, for transportation fuels, and for building block chemicals used to make all kinds of everyday goods.

The presentation ends with a link to a working paper by Nesbitt about renewable chemicals.

“This second episode expands our research to gauge interest in this type of information and format,” said Joanne Ivancic, executive director of Advanced Biofuels USA. “We believe these short introductions about distinctive aspects of the world of renewable fuels and the circular economy are welcomed by teachers, students, homeschoolers, people who just want to know a little bit more, and even by potential investors. It takes “Just a Minute” or so to explore a small part of the world of renewables.  If you want to know more, vast resources are available through the Advanced Biofuels USA website.”

Future topics could include overviews of more conversion technologies, different types of renewable fuels, focus on specific kinds of feedstock, explanation of octane, retrofitting for E85, links to resources for at-home experiments to demonstrate how ethanol or biodiesel are made, how to tell if you have a flex-fuel vehicle, and more.

The range of renewable fuels feedstocks was chosen for the first episode because during in-person lectures, that always attracts intense interest.  This second episode introduces one aspect of a circular economy, a concept much in the news lately as we search for ways to recycle carbon to reduce carbon footprints.  

Three questions you will be able to answer after watching Episode 2:

1. Name 2 or more things, that can be made from waste carbon (waste carbon dioxide (CO2) or waste carbon monoxide (CO)).
2. Name 2 ways that carbon capture and utilization (CCU) can be used to make chemicals.
3. What do you think of when you hear the phrase “circular economy”? Is your answer different after watching Episode 2 than it was before? What’s the difference, if any?