Carbon-Negative Perfume
The Air Company is developing technology to make aviation fuel directly from CO2. As a side gimmick, they also used their technology to make ethanol from CO2, which they then used as a base for a perfume. They claimed it was "the world’s first carbon-negative fragrance."
I wonder what makes it carbon negative, as opposed to carbon neutral?
From what I understand, ethanol made from plants would be carbon neutral if it weren't for the energy used to process the plants into fuel. Because plants take in carbon as they grow, and this carbon is then released again when the fuel is burned.
The Air Company specifies that they used only wind and solar energy to make the ethanol. But even so, once someone uses the fragrance, the carbon will be released into the atmosphere again. Doesn't that make it carbon neutral, rather than negative?
More info: aircompany.com
I wonder what makes it carbon negative, as opposed to carbon neutral?
From what I understand, ethanol made from plants would be carbon neutral if it weren't for the energy used to process the plants into fuel. Because plants take in carbon as they grow, and this carbon is then released again when the fuel is burned.
The Air Company specifies that they used only wind and solar energy to make the ethanol. But even so, once someone uses the fragrance, the carbon will be released into the atmosphere again. Doesn't that make it carbon neutral, rather than negative?
More info: aircompany.com
Comments
Nevermind the bottle and cap. Are they plastic?
Posted by John S on 08/20/24 at 06:37 AM
Maybe you're not supposed to open it.
Posted by ges on 08/22/24 at 11:03 AM
Erm... *all* chemicals, at least the ones we can smell, need either or more often both C and O?
And if you're making ethanol from CO2... that doesn't work like that. Ethanol is C2H6O. You can't get there from here. For one, you need hydrogen; for another, the proportions don't work out. You need... well, you need 6 H to begin with. So 3 H2O, if we're being generous - we're *not* assuming these people have plain hydrogen gas at the ready! Therefore: 3H2O + 2CO2 = C2H6O + 5O2. Sounds good, right? We get oxygen to breathe! Yes, except... this reaction takes a lot of energy. As in, a *lot* of energy. And where are they getting this energy? From burning fossil fuels, is where.
Yeah, this is not carbon neutral.
And if you're making ethanol from CO2... that doesn't work like that. Ethanol is C2H6O. You can't get there from here. For one, you need hydrogen; for another, the proportions don't work out. You need... well, you need 6 H to begin with. So 3 H2O, if we're being generous - we're *not* assuming these people have plain hydrogen gas at the ready! Therefore: 3H2O + 2CO2 = C2H6O + 5O2. Sounds good, right? We get oxygen to breathe! Yes, except... this reaction takes a lot of energy. As in, a *lot* of energy. And where are they getting this energy? From burning fossil fuels, is where.
Yeah, this is not carbon neutral.
Posted by Richard Bos on 08/24/24 at 10:38 AM
Richard, I'm a chemical engineer, and I find your post outstanding. These people also need hydrogen if they expect to make jet fuel -- a lot more hydrogen. And I'll bet a lot more energy.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 08/28/24 at 07:38 AM
Category: Environmentalism and Ecology | Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents