Air Pollution Can Now Be Turned Into Fuel, Bottles, and Dresses

Which company is turning air pollution into usable items?

LanzaTech in Chicago, the United States of America (USA), is turning greenhouse gases into useful products. The company is using a liquid that has numerous bacteria that eat air pollution (whoa!). Three Chinese companies are already using the microorganisms of LanzaTech to produce valuable goods. Waste emissions are used to make ethanol. Then, using this ethanol, things like plastic bottles, athletic clothing, etc. are made.

The company is now looking to begin working with multiple factories after spending 15 years creating the technology and proving its usefulness.

So, how is it being done?

LanzaTech's method of recycling carbon is similar to a brewery. To create ethanol, it mixes bacteria with carbon pollution. The company can turn industrial waste and exhaust gas into ethanol.

A variety of companies use the produced ethanol to make various goods. Zara, a clothing company, is selling dresses that are made from air pollution that has been recycled by LanzaTech.

What’s next for the company?

LanzaTech plans to have six additional facilities, including one in Belgium and another in India (wonderful!). A second company, LanzaJet, was also formed by LanzaTech to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using ethanol. The aviation industry, which uses a lot of fuel, can use SAF to save the environment.

LanzaTech also wants to make microorganisms that can create other chemicals besides ethanol. The company also wants to save energy by creating ethylene directly instead of converting ethanol into it. Ethylene is very useful and is used as a fuel gas in welding and so on.

What did we learn from this article?

We learned how many companies are putting in a lot of effort to reduce the effects of climate change. We also realised how important science is to stop the harmful effects of climate change. Let's hope LanzaTech continues to grow and help recycle air pollution into various useful products.

Do you think Indian companies should also find ways to recycle air pollution? Please tell us in the comments section.