Kolkata: A Bengal scientist, Shoubhik Das, is leading research at University of Bayreuth in Germany that shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) — widely regarded as the principal greenhouse gas driving climate change — can be transformed into a chemical building block instead of being treated solely as industrial waste.Researchers said the technology — published in the journal ‘Science’ — while still at the experimental stage, has the potential to reduce use of hazardous chemicals in manufacturing processes that have remained largely unchanged for decades. Such processes are widely used to produce pharmaceuticals, plastics, cosmetics, fragrances and agricultural products but often generate hazardous waste and require stringent safety measures.An alumnus of Presidency College and IIT Kharagpur, Das hails from Payradanga village in Nadia. He had been working on another research project for generating green hydrogen directly from seawater using sunlight, research that is redefining how the world may produce fuel in a water-stressed future.Das is leading an international team of researchers who have demonstrated a new method of using CO2 as a raw material for manufacturing medicines and other high-value chemicals, a breakthrough that could pave the way for cleaner, safer and more sustainable industrial production.“Govts and industries around the world are investing billions of dollars in technologies that capture CO2 before it reaches the atmosphere. However, capturing the gas is only part of the solution. It is equally important to find practical ways to reuse it. Research such as this helps it transform from an environmental liability into a valuable industrial resource, supporting the development of a more circular and sustainable economy,” said Das, who is currently in the city to attend scientific conferences across India and Asia.“This technology can be used in oxidation processes that are essential for the manufacture of fine chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds,” he added.Scientists said the approach addresses two major challenges simultaneously: reducing the environmental footprint of chemical manufacturing and finding productive uses for captured carbon dioxide.“If successfully scaled up for commercial use, the technology could lower industrial emission, reduce chemical waste and improve workplace safety by minimising dependence on hazardous reagents. More efficient manufacturing could also help reduce production costs for medicines and other essential consumer products over time,” said Das.Researchers added that cleaner production methods could lessen pollution associated with chemical manufacturing, helping improve environmental quality while conserving natural resources for future generations.The publication of the findings in ‘Science’ — one of the world’s most selective scientific journals — underscores the significance of the research. The work has also been highlighted by Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) and Chemistry World, reflecting strong international interest in the discovery.“By developing cleaner manufacturing methods and creating new opportunities to use carbon dioxide as a valuable resource, this work moves us one step closer to a future where industrial progress and environmental responsibility go hand in hand,” Das added.
