METHANE

Recently, Indian Scientists have designed a photochemical method (Photocatalyst) to convert Carbon Dioxide (CO2)to Methane (CH4).
A photochemical method is a chemical reaction initiated by the absorption of energy in the form of light.

Important points:

A polymer has been designed to absorb visible light and catalyse the reaction which reduces CO2.
Most catalysts contain toxic and expensive metal counterparts. Therefore scientists designed a metal-free porous organic polymer to overcome this drawback.
The photochemical method of reducing CO2 uses solar light as a renewable source of energy.
There are several ways in which CO2 can be reduced, including photochemical, electrochemicalphotoelectrochemical, photothermal, and so on.
The catalyst has a chemical called the Conjugated Microporous Polymer (CMP).
It can uptake CO2 onto its surface due to its high CO2 intake capability at room temperature, converting it into methane as a value-added product.
There are some key requirements of a photo-catalyst to convert CO2 into value-added products, which rely upon:
Light-harvesting property.
Charge carrier (electron-hole pair) separation proficiency.
Presence of proper electronically aligned conduction band.

Significance:

Methane can be one of the value-added products with significant uses as the cleanest burning fossil fuel and can directly be used in fuel cellsas a hydrogen carrier.
It is also the main component of natural gas and has the potential to replace coal for electricity generation and furnishing flexible supply to reinforce intermittent renewable generators.

Methane

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

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT

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