Carbon Sciences, Inc,  the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform greenhouse gases into gasoline and other portable fuels, has announced the commencement of the testing of its dry reforming of methane technology in a commercial facility.

Byron Elton, Carbon Sciences’ CEO, commented, “We recently announced an aggressive 2011 development plan. The first step is the performance testing of our breakthrough catalyst in a commercial facility with multiple reactors using protocols required by the oil and gas industry. We have recently engaged a commercial testing firm to perform this task. The equipment build out is underway and actual testing will commence shortly. The results from this exercise will provide us with valuable data for starting the design of a commercial grade catalyst.”

Carbon Sciences’ technology is based on a high performance catalyst for the efficient transformation of CO2 and methane gas into a synthesis gas, which can then be processed into gasoline and other products currently derived from petroleum. The fundamental reaction being catalyzed is known as CO2 reforming of methane. Previous attempts by industry and research groups fell short of achieving a sufficiently robust catalyst. With over 2,000 hours of testing showing greater than 90% conversion efficiency and little catalyst deactivation, Carbon Sciences owns the most robust catalyst in the world for this process.

Elton added, “Since announcing our catalyst breakthrough and commercialization plan, we have received numerous inquiries from parties interested in the commercial use of our catalyst. Our goal is to select one or more commercial development partners by the end of the year. The name of the game is energy independence. We believe that the application of our technology will allow the U.S. and other countries to finally achieve a realistic energy policy that does not depend on petroleum. Abundant domestic resources such as natural gas can be used to produce all the liquid transportation fuels required, in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner.”

“A commercially viable CO2 reforming catalyst and technology is a game changer for the oil and gas industry -- enabling local production of transportation fuels near greenhouse and natural gas sites, as well as enabling global energy independence,” Elton concluded.