Knowridge: Scientists turn greenhouse gas into plastics

UC engineering professor is developing new ways of making in-demand chemical

Knowridge Science Report highlighted a University of Cincinnati engineer's innovative methods to convert carbon dioxide into ethylene, a chemical compound that is used in diverse manufacturing processes around the world.

Associate Professor Jingjie Wu in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science and his research partners developed an efficient method for converting carbon dioxide to ethylene, a key ingredient in plastics and many other uses.

Ethylene has been called “the world’s most important chemical,” used in everything from textiles to antifreeze to vinyl. The chemical industry generated 225 million metric tons of ethylene in 2022.

Wu said the process holds promise for one day producing ethylene through green energy instead of fossil fuels. It has the added benefit of removing carbon from the atmosphere.

His research team's findings were published in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering.

Read the Knowridge Science Report story.

UC chemical engineering in the news

240207aWu032.CR2
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Jingjie Wu has a new study examining new carbon capture technology. He is looking for efficient ways to convert carbon dioxide into ethylene fuel.

In his chemical engineering lab, Associate Professor Jingjie Wu is refining a process that converts carbon dioxide into ethylene. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand

Related Stories

2

UC students engineer first-place-winning hydraulic bicycle

May 5, 2026

For more than a decade, students in the University of Cincinnati Fluid Power Club has designed, built and competed a hydraulic bicycle in the annual National Fluid Power Association’s Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, where students develop a bicycle-like vehicle fully powered by pneumatics and hydraulics. For the first time, the Bearcats brought home the grand champion title this year. A group of fifth-year mechanical engineering technology students joined together to design, develop, and finetune the vehicle.

3

Environmental engineer driven to provide access to clean water

May 4, 2026

Evangelia Anna Passa was drawn to the UC by its reputation of research and department of chemical and environmental engineering. Now pursuing a PhD in environmental engineering at the College of Engineering and Applied Science, she was recently named Graduate student Engineer of the Month.