Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Synthetic food, turning energy into food

plante1999 - 21-12-2012 at 04:48

I think it is possible that someday we use energy to make eatable molecules out of simpler one such as CO2, water, ammonia, phosphoric acid etc... Already I saw an electrochemical process to fix CO2 to organic compound. This process use an hydroxide electrolite and a membrane. First the CO2 is fixed as bicarbonate. Then the bicarbonate is reduced at the cathode, formaldehyde is produced and the hydroxide is regenrated. As such it may be possible to design catalytic cycle able to make more complex compound usable as food source for humans. Such technologie could be used for long term space missions. If you know other way know to do these sort of reaction, please post them!

I find it quite charming to be non-obligated to use other living organism to survive, however some might not have the same opinion as me. How would you react to the possibility to make food syntheticly?

[Edited on 21-12-2012 by plante1999]

Lambda-Eyde - 21-12-2012 at 04:51

Someone is already ahead of ya!

"It has been considered as a possible source of food energy in artificial food regeneration systems on long space missions. It is believed to be safe to get over half of one's dietary energy from triacetin."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triacetin

Endimion17 - 21-12-2012 at 10:24

Quote: Originally posted by Lambda-Eyde  
Someone is already ahead of ya!

"It has been considered as a possible source of food energy in artificial food regeneration systems on long space missions. It is believed to be safe to get over half of one's dietary energy from triacetin."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triacetin


I always wondered what it tastes like. Should I try a spoonful and make a report? :)

plante1999 - 21-12-2012 at 12:05

It would be interesting but I am not sure sure everyone would like you to eat a home lab chemical. Anyway, does anybody know other things about synthetic food synthesis using energy?

Oscilllator - 21-12-2012 at 18:19

I imagine triacetin would get very boring after a year...

Synthetic flavourings are called for! bring on the delicious sodium acetate!