USF’s Ramon Gonzalez hopes to harness the power of human physiology to transform greenhouse gases into usable chemical compounds. Crude oil production releases gases like methane, a one-carbon (C1) material, which are burned off in the process. The USF team used a human enzyme to convert specific C1 materials into compounds that are commonly used in the production of plastics and other materials.

Currently, oil production facilities burn off gases such as methane, a process that is inefficient and leads to the release of excess, unburned methane into the atmosphere, as well as additional carbon dioxide. The USF-developed technique could allow oil producers to better manage their impact on the environment and produce valuable compounds like ethylene glycol and glycolic acid – molecules used in the production of plastics, polymers, and much more.

• Ramon Gonzalez