A Southeast Missouri State University professor and his undergraduate research students recently conducted successful experiments in the field of carbon dioxide chemistry.

Dr. Jin Gong, associate professor of chemistry, and his research students participated in a joint NASA-university research project.

Their research paper was published in a 1996 issue of the Journal of American Chemical Society.

The journal article was highlighted in a feature article in "Applied Chemistry" in the Jan. 6 issue of Chemistry & Industry.

Gong explained that carbon dioxide is the molecule that causes the "Greenhouse Effect" in the Earth's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide also is the major component (94-96 percent) of the atmosphere on Mars, Gong said.

The successful use of carbon dioxide as a carbon source to replace petroleum in the chemical industry will be extremely significant, he said.

"The chemistry reported in our paper provides an unprecedented procedure to convert carbon dioxide to C2 organic molecules. We are glad we can make such a contribution in this challenging field," Gong said.

The venture is a collaborative research, education development and outreach initiative which provides an opportunity to broaden the participation of university scientists in the space program and to spread enthusiasm about the space program to university, high school and elementary school students.