Recently, a team of researchers in Oxford University found that creating fuel(燃料)for planes out of CO2 could soon be a reality.
The process uses cheap iron as a material to catch CO2 from the air and turns it into fuel for planes. The researchers have described their discovery a "significant social progress" in how the plentiful greenhouse gas(CO2) is turned into fuel and its potential to make flying more environmentally acceptable.
Aviation(航空)is a large and growing contributor to the greenhouse effect. It contributes around 10 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions(排放). Flying has as a result become an environmental battleground-with environmentalists strongly against expansion of air travel-for increasing CO2 emissions.
The UK, by law, is determined to get to "zero" carbon emissions by 2050, so a new form of carbon fuel must be found. The problem for aviation is that its fuel breaks down and gives off CO2 and water, and both of them are sent out into the atmosphere.
However, the new technique would catch the gas in the air and create fuel, without the need of filling up with new fuel from the ground. CO2 is highly stable(稳定的), but the researchers managed to turn it back into fuel by using a chemical change powered by an iron-based material-at low temperatures-and adding hydrogen(H2).
Professor Edwards said the achievement could put Britain at a leading level of a new green industry He expected it could increase production in two to three years and the team is in discussion with UK industries to set up a factory to put it into production. "Our plan is that the world can see that CO2 can be used as energy carrier to enable aviation to last. " he said.
