A method has been developed that would help convert carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The process developed by the Osaka National Research Institute, Japan, involves reaction of CO2 with hydrogen in presence of a catalyst made from iron, zinc and a zeolite. Then CO2 and hydrogen are pressurised to 50 atmosphere and heated to a temperature of 350 C. Thereafter they are passed through a container of catalyst that results in the production of nearly five per cent hydrocarbons of the total quantity processed. It comprises 80 per cent LPG and 20 per cent gasoline . The institute is now planning to use solar cells so that natural energy could be utilised to convert CO2 into gasoline.
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