In theory, is it possible to reverse a combustion reaction with added energy? If that’s the case, how would a specific reactant like methane be made?

Question

In theory, is it possible to reverse a combustion reaction with added energy? If that’s the case, how would a specific reactant like methane be made?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Yes.

The Sabatier reaction involves the reaction of hydrogen with carbon dioxide at high temperature (optimally 300–400 °C) and pressure with a nickel catalyst to produce methane and water. Since water can be split to make hydrogen, this process can also take water and carbon dioxide to make methane and oxygen.

Answer 2

Theoretically, yes, but you’d need to have a combustion reaction with 100% efficiency and capture 100% of the products of combustion in order to revert everything back, and that’s practically impossible.