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Carbon dioxide, the notorious greenhouse gas, is often cited as the leading cause behind global warming and climate change. With 76% of all annual global greenhouse gas emissions coming from carbon dioxide, it’s no surprise that efforts are being made to reduce its impact on the environment. However, one scientist, Emily Cole, has taken a different approach to dealing with this problematic gas.
Emily Cole, a 32-year-old scientist, has created technology that can recycle carbon dioxide into something extremely useful. As the co-founder and chief science officer of Liquid Light, a startup pioneering the conversion of carbon dioxide gas into valuable chemicals, Cole is on a mission to turn waste into a resource.
Founded in 2009, Liquid Light immediately got to work developing technology to capture and recycle carbon dioxide. Instead of the traditional method of capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide, Liquid Light focuses on converting it into something of value. By utilizing a catalyst made up of water, sunlight, electricity, and other chemicals, Liquid Light is able to create chemicals such as ethylene glycol and glycolic acid from carbon dioxide sourced from power plants or factories.
These chemicals have the potential to replace petroleum in everyday consumer products like plastic bottles, carpets, antifreeze, and facial creams. The benefits of this technology are clear – reducing dependence on non-renewable petroleum, lowering carbon dioxide emissions, and potentially lowering production costs.
Emily Cole’s journey into the world of recycling carbon dioxide began in her high school chemistry class in Texas. Inspired by a great teacher who ignited her passion for chemistry, Cole went on to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton University. It was at Princeton where she collaborated with Professor Andrew Bocarsly, who had been working on ways to recycle carbon dioxide. Seeing the potential in his research, Cole took the initiative to further develop the technology.
With funding from venture capitalists, Liquid Light has grown into a team of 12 and is on track to pilot the technology within the next year. The startup has already attracted the attention of big companies like Coca-Cola, who partnered with Liquid Light to accelerate the commercialization of the technology. This partnership is especially relevant to Coca-Cola as it could help reduce the cost of producing plant-based PET plastic bottles.
Looking ahead, Cole’s dream is to commercialize this technology and reduce our dependence on oil. With another “big industry name” set to announce a partnership soon, it’s clear that Liquid Light’s innovative approach to recycling carbon dioxide is gaining traction in the industry.
In conclusion, Emily Cole and Liquid Light are leading the way in transforming carbon dioxide from a waste gas into a valuable resource. By converting carbon dioxide into chemicals that can be used in consumer products, they are not only reducing the environmental impact of this greenhouse gas but also paving the way for a more sustainable future. Cole’s passion for chemistry and commitment to addressing climate change through innovative technology is a testament to the power of scientific ingenuity in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
