Photoconversion of inorganics to methane. Final topical report, October 1987-February 1989

This report evaluates the cost of producing gaseous fuels from carbon dioxide, water, and solar energy. Such a process must have high conversion efficiency and low capital costs per unit of collection area to be economically attractive. A novel pond reactor is designed that has a cost much lower than other conversion facilities but still higher than is needed to produce economically competitive fuels at projected efficiencies. Due to a change in supply strategy away from long-term synthetic routes to gaseous fuels, GRI has redirected this contract to evaluate other inorganic-chemistry-related projects.