--- description: Cambridge University scientists introduced a solar reactor that uses solar power to convert CO2 and plastic into sustainable fuel. title: "From Waste to Fuel: Solar-Powered Reactor Converts CO2 and Plastic into Sustainable Fuel - Energy Theory" image: https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/From-Waste-to-Fuel-Solar-Powered-Reactor-Converts-CO2-and-Plastic-into-Sustainable-Fuel.jpg --- Close Menu - [About](https://energytheory.com/about-us/) - [EV](https://energytheory.com/category/electric-vehicles/) - [FAQs](https://energytheory.com/category/faqs/) - [Glossary](https://energytheory.com/category/glossary/) - [Green](https://energytheory.com/category/green/) - [Renewable](https://energytheory.com/category/renewable/) - [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) - [Energy Economy](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-economy/) - [Energy Services](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-services/) - [Solar](https://energytheory.com/category/solar/) - [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) - [News](https://energytheory.com/category/latest-news/) - Language [![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png)](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish ![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian ![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified) ![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch ![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish ![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German ![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi ![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese ![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish ![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese ![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian [![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png)](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish ![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian ![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified) ![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch ![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish ![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German ![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi ![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese ![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish ![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese ![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian [Latest News](https://energytheory.com/category/latest-news/) # From Waste to Fuel: Solar-Powered Reactor Converts CO2 and Plastic into Sustainable Fuel By [Elliot Clark](https://energytheory.com/author/elliot_clark/)November 17, 20234 Mins Read ![From Waste to Fuel: Solar-Powered Reactor Converts CO2 and Plastic into Sustainable Fuel](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/From-Waste-to-Fuel-Solar-Powered-Reactor-Converts-CO2-and-Plastic-into-Sustainable-Fuel-1024x683.jpg "From Waste to Fuel: Solar-Powered Reactor Converts CO2 and Plastic into Sustainable Fuel") Cambridge University scientists created a solar reactor to turn plastic waste and CO2 into useful chemicals and sustainable fuels. Scientists used solar power to turn industrial and atmospheric emissions into eco-friendly liquid fuels, and plastic bottles into glycolic acid for cosmetics. The goal of the technology is to remove fossil fuels and reduce carbon from the atmosphere. With this solar power converts CO2 and plastic into sustainable fuel techniques, underground storage of carbon dioxide and its long-term consequences can be reduced. Cambridge University scientists created a solar reactor that transforms CO2 and plastic waste into eco-friendly fuels and useful chemicals. CO2 was turned into syngas for sustainable liquid fuels and plastic bottles were turned into glycolic acid for cosmetics. In contrast to previous experiments with their solar fuel technique, the researchers used CO2 obtained from actual sources, like industrial emissions or directly from the atmosphere. Scientists captured and turned CO2 into eco-friendly fuel. This technology still needs improvements before being used on a large scale. However, the results show an important step forward towards producing clean fuels to power the economy, without damaging the environment with oil and gas extraction. Prof. Erwin Reisner’s team at the [Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry](https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/er376) has been **creating renewable, carbon-neutral fuels for years, using artificial leaves** and drawing inspiration from photosynthesis, the process plants use to turn sunlight into energy. By relying solely on solar power, these synthetic leaves are capable of converting water and CO2 into useful fuels. Their solar experiments used concentrated CO2 from a cylinder, but it needs to capture CO2 from industrial processes or air for practical use. It’s hard to make technology that can convert much diluted CO2 because there are many types of molecules in the air, not just CO2. [Professor Reisner](https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/er376) said, *“We’re not just interested in decarbonization, but de-fossilization – we need to completely eliminate fossil fuels in order to create a truly circular economy. In the medium term, this technology could help reduce carbon emissions by capturing them from industry and turning them into something useful, but ultimately, we need to cut fossil fuels out of the equation entirely and capture CO2 from the air.”* The researchers drew motivation from carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques, which entail the capture of CO2, followed by its [storage underground](https://energytheory.com/microsoft-all-set-to-capture-and-store-its-carbon-emissions-underground/) through pumping. In the words of Professor Reisner, *“CCS is a technology that’s popular with the fossil fuel industry as a way to reduce carbon emissions while continuing oil and gas exploration. But if instead of carbon capture and storage, we had carbon capture and utilization, we could make something useful from CO2 instead of burying it underground, with unknown long-term consequences, and eliminate the use of fossil fuels.”* Researchers made their solar technology work with **fuel gas and air**, using sunlight to turn CO2 and plastics into fuel and chemicals. The process of bubbling air through an alkaline solution allows for **selective trapping of CO2** while the other gases are safely removed. By applying this bubbling technique, scientists can effectively concentrate the CO2 present in the atmosphere in a solution, thus facilitating its handling. **Also See**: [6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Carbon Capture](https://energytheory.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-carbon-capture/) ![From Waste to Fuel: Solar-Powered Reactor Converts CO2 and Plastic into Sustainable Fuel](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/From-Waste-to-Fuel-Solar-Powered-Reactor-Converts-CO2-and-Plastic-into-Sustainable-Fuel1.jpg) This integrated system contains an anode and a photocathode. One of the compartments of the system captures CO2 solution, which is then transformed into syngas, a basic type of fuel. Another one converts plastic into useful chemicals using solar energy. Co-first author [Dr. Motiar Rahaman](https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/mr820) said, *“The plastic component is an important trick to this system. Capturing and using CO2 from the air makes the chemistry more difficult. But, if we add plastic waste to the system, the plastic donates electrons to the CO2. The plastic breaks down to glycolic acid, which is widely used in the cosmetics industry, and the CO2 is converted into syngas, which is a simple fuel.”* [Dr. Sayan Kar](https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/sk2191), co-first author, states, *“This solar-powered system takes two harmful waste products – plastic and carbon emissions – and converts them into something truly useful. The fact that we can effectively take CO2 from air and make something useful from it is special. It’s satisfying to see that we can actually do it using only sunlight.”* Dr. Rahaman added, *“Instead of storing CO2 underground, like in CCS, we can capture it from the air and make clean fuel from it. This way, we can cut out the fossil fuel industry from the process of fuel production, which can hopefully help us avoid climate destruction.”* Scientists are making a small and efficient device to show how using captured air with CO2 can create a zero-carbon future. Hopefully, reactors where solar power converts CO2 and plastic into sustainable fuel could help in dealing with climate change too. Source [Research – Integrated capture and solar-driven utilization of CO2 from flue gas and air]() Share. 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With a background in environmental science, he has a deep understanding of the issues facing our planet and is committed to educating others on how they can make a difference. #### Related Posts [![31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/31.6-300x200.webp "31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE")](https://energytheory.com/31-6-efficient-perovskite-silicon-tandem-solar-cell-by-fraunhofer-ise/ "31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE") #### [31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE](https://energytheory.com/31-6-efficient-perovskite-silicon-tandem-solar-cell-by-fraunhofer-ise/) September 27, 2024 [![24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24.2-Efficient-POLO-Back-Junction-Solar-Cell-Built-with-PECVD-by-ISFH-and-Centrotherm-Scientists-300x200.webp "24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists")](https://energytheory.com/24-2-efficient-polo-back-junction-solar-cell-built-with-pecvd-by-isfh-and-centrotherm-scientists/ "24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists") #### [24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists](https://energytheory.com/24-2-efficient-polo-back-junction-solar-cell-built-with-pecvd-by-isfh-and-centrotherm-scientists/) September 25, 2024 [![New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/New-Walkable-PV-Panels-by-Hungary-based-Platio-Solar-300x200.webp "New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar")](https://energytheory.com/new-walkable-pv-panels-by-hungary-based-platio-solar/ "New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar") #### [New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar](https://energytheory.com/new-walkable-pv-panels-by-hungary-based-platio-solar/) September 24, 2024 Add A Comment Leave A Reply [Cancel Reply](https://energytheory.com/solar-powered-reactor-converts-co2-and-plastic-into-sustainable-fuel/#respond) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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