Researchers at UCLA, Rice University, and UC Santa Barbara discover a sustainable method for syngas production

In California, UCLA researchers alongside researchers from Rice University and UC Santa Barbara have developed a more sustainable method of producing syngas as the result of a newly developed catalyst: copper with a few atoms of the precious metal ruthenium exposed to visible light. Previous methods would result in the buildup of coke thereby minimizing the efficiency of the catalyst, but now that the researcher’s new method uses visible light that is no longer of concern. UCLA chemical and biomolecular engineering emphasized the impact of their research by noting that what is exciting about this new process is that it offers the opportunity to react captured greenhouse gases — reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere — while creating this critical chemical feedstock using an inexpensive catalyst and renewable energy in the form of sunlight instead of using fossil fuels.”