A team from the **MIT** set out to transform **CO2 pollution** into ethylene, a chemical substance used in the [manufacturing of various plastics](https://noticiasambientales.com/compromiso-ambiental/disco-de-vinilo-con-plasticos-recuperados-del-oceano-asi-sera-el-nuevo-de-coldplay/) and fuels.
Currently, ethylene is obtained from petroleum and its price is $1,000 per ton. This technology can also produce high-value chemicals such as **methane** or **carbon monoxide**.
Although the technology to transform CO2 pollution already exists, it needs improvement to be profitable and to be extended to numerous processes. The MIT project aims to demonstrate that its technology can replace traditional **ethylene manufacturing**, avoiding the use of fossil fuels and [reducing pollution](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/esta-ciudad-europea-prohibio-fumar-en-las-calles-para-reducir-la-contaminacion/).
## Improving technology to transform CO2
MIT researchers needed to increase the sample size, moving away from the usual scales of laboratories. It would be necessary for the **electrodes** to be 100 times larger than laboratory versions. The team produced a sheet with an area ten times larger than common samples, demonstrating the **efficacy of the technology** on a larger scale.
The challenge was to maintain efficiency while increasing the size. The electrodes must be good conductors and repel water (hydrophobic). The team used PTFE (Teflon) to enhance the **hydrophobic properties** and wove conductive copper wires through the PTFE sheet, creating a “superhighway” for electricity.
## Future of the technology
“You can stitch this micrometer copper **wire** into any gas diffusion electrode you want, regardless of the morphology or chemistry of the catalyst. This method can be used to scale up anyone’s electrode,” says Simon Rufer, a MIT doctoral student.
This technology promises to **transform CO2 into useful products**, contributing to emission reduction and the creation of more sustainable processes in the industry.
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