Fuel production from atmospheric CO2 and H20 by artificial photosynthesis and method of operation thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and to fuel production, and more specifically, to carbonaceous fuel production by means of utilization of atmospheric carbon dioxide and water by “artificial photosynthesis”, as defined herein and methods of operation thereof.

1 . A method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel, said method comprising the steps of:
 within a first sub-process, producing carbonaceous fuel from air through the utilization of rapid oxidation of a metal;   within a second sub-process, recovering the elemental metal from the metal oxide.   
     
     
         2 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel of  claim 1 , and wherein the metal comprises magnesium. 
     
     
         3 . The method for recovering elemental metal from metal oxide according to  claim 1 , wherein said process of recovering elemental metal from metal oxide further comprises potential utilization of such metal in a metallic fuel cell. 
     
     
         4 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 2 , and wherein said process of recovering magnesium further includes utilization of water as a catalyst and oxygen as a byproduct. 
     
     
         5 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and method for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1 , and wherein said process of recovering magnesium further includes utilization of magnesium oxide produced as a byproduct from said first sub-process. 
     
     
         6 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1 , and wherein said second sub-process is electrolytic. 
     
     
         7 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein said second electrolytic sub-process further utilizes solar power. 
     
     
         8 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein said second electrolytic sub-process further utilizes geothermal power means. 
     
     
         9 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein said second electrolytic sub-process further utilizes wind power. 
     
     
         10 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1 , and wherein said sub-process of isolating carbon dioxide from air further includes the step of reducing temperature to form frozen carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         11 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1 , and wherein said production of carbonaceous fuel further includes utilization of a catalyzed chemical reaction in which carbon monoxide and hydrogen are converted into liquid hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         12 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 11 , and wherein said catalyzed chemical reaction comprises the Fischer-Tropsch process. 
     
     
         13 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and method for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 5 , and wherein said process of recovering magnesium further comprises the conversion of MgO to MgCl 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and method for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 13 , and wherein said process of recovering magnesium utilizing the conversion of magnesium oxide to magnesium further comprises the use of electrolytic means and wherein the polarity thereof is reversed to provide elemental magnesium metal at one electrode and chlorine at the other electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The method for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and for producing carbonaceous fuel according to  claim 1  and within said second sub-process thereof for recovering the elemental metal from the metal oxide, further comprising the use of a magnesium/nickel chromium battery.