UCLA

The emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has been linked to global warming. Carbon dioxide's (CO2) one of the most abundant greenhouse gases. Natural gas, mainly methane, is the cleanest fossil fuel for electricity production helping meet the United States ever growing energy needs. The methanation of CO2 has the potential to address both of these problems if a catalyst can be developed that meets the activity, economic and environmental requirements to industrialize the process. Producing methane using carbon dioxide as a reactant would have the dual effect of keeping CO2 from entering earth's atmosphere by consuming it to produce natural gas which in turn can produce electricity to meet growing power needs. This thesis aims to introduce the current methanation of carbon dioxide research, provide guidance into what needs to be considered before entering this field and how one might go about it.