Martian air could yield methane rocket fuel with fewer unwanted byproducts

NASA researchers are exploring ways to produce rocket fuel from Martian air, as part of preparations for future Mars missions. In a study published in ACS Catalysis, they demonstrated that carbon dioxide in Martian air can be converted into methane using a copper catalyst. The catalyst is 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, and it reduces unwanted byproducts. The process uses electricity to convert CO2 into carbon-containing fuels, which could help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The study shows that the reaction can be optimized to produce methane with high selectivity, making it suitable for propellant-grade purity. The researchers are developing catalysts that can be used on Mars, where separation and purification infrastructure is limited. The technology could be useful on Earth, as methane is a key component of natural gas and is used in the production of fuels and industrial chemicals. The process could enable more distributed production of fuels and chemicals instead of relying on large, centralized facilities.

The research is part of a broader effort to close the carbon cycle and reduce reliance on virgin fossil carbon. While the technology is not yet capable of removing large quantities of CO2 from Earth's atmosphere, it could be used to produce methane from CO2 in a sustainable way. The research group plans to test the method with different materials to improve methane production on Mars. The work could also benefit industries that are difficult to decarbonize, such as air travel, by providing synthetic carbon-based fuels that can be used in planes without relying on virgin fossil fuel.

AI-generated summary of the original article — see the source for the full story.