ethanol

Or to produce biofuels, producing around 198 million barrels of ethanol for transportation.

The team used electrocatalysis, a type of chemical reaction initiated by electron transfers to and from reactants on surfaces of catalysts, to convert carbon dioxide into biocompatible intermediates, such as acetate and ethanol.

Environmental Protection Agency issued a violation to ethanol producer Archer-Daniels-Midland for failing to monitor the well as its permit specifies.

A low-cost, tin-based catalyst can selectively convert carbon dioxide to three widely produced chemicals -- ethanol, acetic acid and formic acid.

"There are lots of negatives when it comes to ethanol, mainly because the positives have been so widely overstated," Oliver said.