translated from Spanish: They develop an artificial leaf that can imitate the process of photosynthesis

a group of researchers from the University of Illinois designed a new type of artificial leaf that can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to mimic the process of photosynthesis and release oxygen into the air. So far, all the similar prototypes only worked in laboratory situation since they were pure and pressurized carbon dioxide.” To be implemented successfully in the real world, must obtain carbon dioxide sources much more diluted, such as air or combustion gases,”explained one of the authors of the study, the chemical engineer Meenesh Singh.En the study published on the portal of Engineering and sustainable chemistry, the team explains that it met the limitation placing artificial leaf within a constructed capsule with a semipermeable membrane of resin quaternary ammonium (a chemical normally used as an antiseptic and) disinfectant) and filled with water. When liquid is evaporated by solar light attracts the molecules of carbon dioxide, which are then absorbed by the leaf photosynthetic units and turned into carbon monoxide. Thus it produces both oxygen and gas which can be used as a basis for various synthetic fuels.” To wrap the traditional artificial sheet in this special membrane, the unit can perform their function abroad, like a leaf,”explained Singh.segun team calculations, 360 sheets of 170 x 20 cm could produce half tons of monoxide de daily carbon and arranged in an area of 500 square meters to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide by 10 percent within a radius of one hundred meters. The study ensures that these systems are modular, scalable and up to fourteen times more efficient than natural leaves.” Our conceptual design uses materials and technology already available that can produce an artificial sheet ready to use out of the laboratory, which could meet a significant role in the reduction of the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere gases ” the researcher concluded. In this note:

Original source in Spanish