Upcycling CO2

A vast array of consumer and industrial products rely on petrochemicals made from petroleum and natural gas. California-based startup Twelve, named after Carbon 12, the element’s most abundant isotope, has developed technology to produce needed carbon-based compounds without fossil fuels. Its device—an electrochemical reactor that companies can customize and integrate into existing production systems—can transform CO2 sourced from air (or captured from industrial emissions) into hydrocarbon ingredients for fuels, plastics and other materials. Twelve sees the potential to “defossilize” manufacturing processes to address the climate crisis while still making modern materials. These include aviation fuel and laundry detergent, which Twelve is helping to produce via partnerships with Alaska Airlines and Procter & Gamble, respectively.

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