The catalyst can turn carbon dioxide into plastic

Scientists have created a catalyst that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide to ethylene, which is used to create the most common plastic.

The focus of this study is to reduce carbon dioxide, in which CO2 is converted into other chemicals through the use of electric currents and chemical reactions supported by a catalyst.

Many metals can act as catalysts in this reaction, including gold, silver and zinc that can produce carbon monoxide (CO), tin and palladium that can formate. However, only catalyst is a new copper that can help ethylene production, which is the core component of polyethylene.

Phil De Luna, a PhD student at the University of Toronto, said: "Copper is a magic metal. It is like a magic because it can produce many different chemicals, such as methane, ethylene, and ethanol. But it is difficult to control what it creates. "

The researchers were able to find another catalyst that corresponds to copper and determined the ideal conditions for maximizing ethylene production in the reaction that minimized the amount of methane.

By determining the exact conditions to maximize ethylene production during the reaction, it is possible to create a catalyst to meet those conditions.

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