Organokatalis are catalysts that use non-metallic element found in organic compounds such as NHC (N-heterocyclic carbenes), for example IME (1,3-bis-(2,4,6 trimethylphenyl) imidazolylidene is organokatalis form a stable and safe in storage. These compounds have no toxic elements and heavy metals that can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.
Scientists are reacting the CO2 with the use of NHC. When compared with inorganic catalysts, which are toxic and unstable, the NHC is very stable and even in open space in contact with oxygen. With these advantages NHC can react with CO2 in a dry room conditions.
Scientists at IBN also showed that only a fraction of the NHC is needed to induce CO 2. One senior researcher IBN, Siti Nurhana Riduan, saying that their efforts can contribute to the reduction of CO2 in the environment and transform it into methanol, which can be beneficial for industry and fuel sources.
In this reaction, hydrosiline which is a combination of silica and hydrogen is added to the NHC is activated by CO2 and the products of this reaction is methanol by hydrolysis process. Yugen Zhang (one researcher IBN) said that hydrosiline provide a source of hydrogen bonded with the CO2 reduction process. Carbon dioxide is reduced efficiently by the NHC so that methanol can be easily obtained from this reaction.
Their previous research on the NHC has also concluded that the broad application of NHC can also be used as a powerful antioxidant that may prevent degenerative diseases and also catalyze the sugar into alternative energy sources. Currently, they have to apply for methanol production with raw material from highly abundant gas on earth ..
Previous studies aimed at reducing the amount of CO2 into valuable products such as methanol has also been carried out but in the study requires a high energy, a slow reaction, and catalysts are not stable from the transition metals.
IBN Executive Director Jackie Y. Ying, Ph.D., said that in the study, IBN has yielded an innovative method using raw materials that can reduce air pollution from CO2. It can also reduce the effects of global warming so that it becomes a solution for alternative energy amid the energy crisis and the current environment.
from:www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/04/090416102247.htm