Method and device for producing hydrocarbon

Abstract

To provide a method and a device for producing a hydrocarbon that use microbubbles capable of more efficiently reducing carbon dioxide to synthesize the hydrocarbon. Provided is a method for producing a hydrocarbon by dissolving carbon dioxide as microbubbles and dissolving a gas that generates active oxygen as microbubbles in water, generating active oxygen by irradiating the water containing microbubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen with ultraviolet rays in the presence of a photocatalyst, and bringing the microbubbles of the carbon dioxide into contact in the presence of the active oxygen to reduce the carbon dioxide. The microbubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen are dissolved in the water at 10 to the power of 8 / mL or more, the microbubbles of carbon dioxide are dissolved in the water at 10 to the power of 8 / mL or more, and the gas that generates active oxygen contains ozone.

Description

Hydrocarbon production method and apparatus

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons using fine bubbles.

[0002] Conventionally, methods for synthesizing hydrocarbons by reducing carbon dioxide in water include a method in which hydrogen is added under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, etc. However, in these conventional methods, the synthesis is carried out by adding hydrogen under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, which has problems such as high equipment costs and complicated equipment maintenance.

[0003] Therefore, a method for synthesizing hydrocarbons that does not require high-temperature and high-pressure conditions or the addition of hydrogen has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the method for synthesizing hydrocarbons shown in Patent Document 1, oxygen is supplied to water containing carbon dioxide to generate oxygen nanobubbles (fine bubbles), and active oxygen is generated by irradiating the water containing the fine oxygen bubbles with ultraviolet light in the presence of a photocatalyst, and carbon dioxide is reduced in the presence of the active oxygen.

[0004] Patent No. 6440742

[0005] In conventional methods for synthesizing hydrocarbons by carbon dioxide reduction, active oxygen is generated by irradiating fine oxygen bubbles with ultraviolet light. However, the generation of active oxygen using this oxygen is slow when the amount of fine bubbles is small. Therefore, a method for generating a sufficient amount of active oxygen in large quantities in the form of fine bubbles has been sought.

[0006] In view of the above, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons using fine bubbles, which can more efficiently reduce carbon dioxide to synthesize hydrocarbons.

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and the means for solving this problem will now be described.

[0008] That is, the present invention provides a method for producing hydrocarbons, comprising dissolving carbon dioxide as fine bubbles in water, dissolving a gas that generates active oxygen as fine bubbles, generating the active oxygen by irradiating ultraviolet light onto water containing the fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen in the presence of a photocatalyst, and reducing the carbon dioxide fine bubbles by contacting them in the presence of the active oxygen, wherein the fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen are dissolved in water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles / mL or more, the carbon dioxide fine bubbles are dissolved in water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles / mL or more, and the gas that generates active oxygen includes ozone.

[0009] Alternatively, ultrasonic waves may be irradiated into the water to collapse the fine bubbles of the gas that generates the active oxygen and carbon dioxide.

[0010] In the present invention, a silent discharge may be applied to the gas that generates active oxygen, and the gas containing a large number of electrons may be dissolved as fine bubbles.

[0011] In the present invention, the photocatalyst may be formed of a carrier made of a metal processed into a flocculent form, and titanium oxide may be attached to the carrier.

[0012] In the present invention, the titanium oxide may be brookite-type titanium dioxide.

[0013] In the present invention, the titanium oxide may be decahedral titanium oxide.

[0014] In the present invention, a reducing agent containing hydrogen may be further dissolved as fine bubbles in the intermediate product containing carbon dioxide that could not be reduced to hydrocarbons, thereby making the oxidation-reduction potential of the intermediate product a negative (−) value.

[0015] The present invention also provides a hydrocarbon production device comprising: a water tank for storing water; a first fine-bubble generating member for dissolving carbon dioxide as fine bubbles; a second fine-bubble generating member for dissolving a gas that generates active oxygen as fine bubbles; and an ultraviolet irradiation member for irradiating the water containing fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen with ultraviolet light in the presence of a photocatalyst, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation member irradiates the water containing fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen with ultraviolet light, thereby reducing the carbon dioxide fine bubbles by contacting them in the presence of the active oxygen generated, wherein the fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen are dissolved in the water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles / mL or more, the carbon dioxide fine bubbles are dissolved in the water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles / mL or more, and the gas that generates active oxygen includes ozone.

[0016] The present invention has the following effects.

[0017] In the present invention, ozone, which can be generated more efficiently than oxygen as a gas for generating active oxygen, is supplied in the form of fine bubbles, thereby increasing the reaction opportunity and accelerating the synthesis of hydrocarbons.

[0018] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hydrocarbon production apparatus, a partial cross-sectional view showing a first fine-bubble generating medium and a second fine-bubble generating medium, a schematic diagram showing an intermediate product reducing device, and a partial cross-sectional view showing a third fine-bubble generating medium.

[0019] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a method for producing hydrocarbons according to the present invention (first method) and an apparatus for producing the same will be described.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a production apparatus 10 for synthesizing hydrocarbons by the hydrocarbon production method according to the present invention includes a water tank 11 for storing water A, a first fine-bubble generating medium 14 which is a first fine-bubble generating member for dissolving carbon dioxide as fine bubbles, a second fine-bubble generating medium 16 which is a second fine-bubble generating member for dissolving a gas that generates active oxygen as fine bubbles, and a UV lamp 19 which is an ultraviolet irradiation member for irradiating the water containing fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen with ultraviolet rays in the presence of a photocatalyst.

[0021] A predetermined amount of water A that has been passed through a reverse osmosis membrane is stored in the water tank 11. By passing the water A through the reverse osmosis membrane, impurities such as ions and salts are removed from the water A.

[0022] The first fine-bubble generating member, which dissolves carbon dioxide as fine bubbles, is formed of a cylindrical first fine-bubble generating medium 14. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fine-bubble generating medium 14 is arranged parallel to the direction of water flow in the water tank 11 (the direction of the black arrow in Figure 2). In this embodiment, the first fine-bubble generating medium 14 is arranged parallel to the direction of water flow, but this is not limited thereto. The first fine-bubble generating medium 14 may be arranged so that the downstream side is inclined downward with respect to the direction of water flow. The first fine-bubble generating medium 14 has an internal space 14a connected to a carbon dioxide supply device 15.

[0023] The first fine bubble generating medium 14 is made of a carbon-based porous material and has a large number of fine pores 14A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm, as shown in Figure 2. The first fine bubble generating medium 14 is an electrical conductor, and the bubbles generated from the first fine bubble generating medium 14 are negatively charged. In other words, free electrons are added to the fine bubbles as they pass through the first fine bubble generating medium 14, which is an electrical conductor, and the bubbles are thereby negatively charged. This negative charge causes the bubbles to repel each other, preventing them from coalescing and forming larger bubbles.

[0024] Carbon-based porous materials are inorganic materials that are composed of only carbon or a composite material containing carbon and ceramic. A film several nanometers thick is formed on the surface of the carbon-based porous material. The film is made of an inorganic film containing silicon. Carbon-based porous materials are oxidation-resistant, do not rust, and do not deteriorate due to oxidation even when placed in water for a long period of time. Furthermore, the surface is made of an inorganic film containing silicon, making them resistant to dirt adhesion.

[0025] The second microbubble generating member, which dissolves the gas that generates active oxygen as microbubbles, is formed by a cylindrical second microbubble generating medium 16. Ozone is used as the gas that generates active oxygen. Ozone is a substance that generates active oxygen when oxygen or water is decomposed. Note that the gas that generates active oxygen is not limited to ozone, and may be, for example, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, or hypochlorous acid.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second micro-bubble generating medium 16 is arranged parallel to the direction of water flow in the water tank 11 (the direction of the black arrow in FIG. 2 ). In this embodiment, the micro-bubble generating medium 16 is arranged parallel to the direction of water flow, but this is not limiting. The micro-bubble generating medium 16 may be arranged so that its downstream side is inclined downward relative to the direction of water flow. The micro-bubble generating medium 16 has an internal space 16a connected to an ozone supply device 17. The ozone supply device 17 is composed of an oxygen storage tank 17a, which is the source of ozone, and a silent discharge device 17b located downstream of the oxygen storage tank 17a. Stable oxygen molecules supplied from the oxygen storage tank 17a are collided with the released electrons, dissociating them into oxygen atoms, and ozone is formed by triple collisions. This allows a large number of negative electrons to be introduced into the water.

[0027] The micro-bubble generating medium 16 is made of a carbon-based porous material and has a large number of fine pores 16A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm, as shown in Figure 2. The micro-bubble generating medium 16 is an electrical conductor, and the bubbles generated from the micro-bubble generating medium 16 are negatively charged. In other words, free electrons are added to the micro-bubbles as they pass through the electrically conductive micro-bubble generating medium 16, thereby causing them to be negatively charged. This negative charge causes the bubbles to repel each other, preventing them from coalescing and forming larger bubbles.

[0028] Carbon-based porous materials are inorganic materials that are composed of only carbon or a composite material containing carbon and ceramic. A film several nanometers thick is formed on the surface of the carbon-based porous material. The film is made of an inorganic film containing silicon. Carbon-based porous materials are oxidation-resistant, do not rust, and do not deteriorate due to oxidation even when placed in water for a long period of time. Furthermore, the surface is made of an inorganic film containing silicon, making them resistant to dirt adhesion.

[0029] 1, the photocatalytic device 18 includes a UV lamp 19 for irradiating ultraviolet light onto water A containing fine bubbles of carbon dioxide and ozone, and a reaction tube 20 having a photocatalyst therein. The UV lamp 19 is disposed around the reaction tube 20 and irradiates ultraviolet light toward the reaction tube 20. The reaction tube 20 is a tubular container that is permeable to ultraviolet light and is configured so that water A containing fine bubbles of carbon dioxide and ozone can pass through its interior.

[0030] In the photocatalytic device 18, water A containing carbon dioxide and a gas that generates active oxygen is supplied at a predetermined flow rate to the inside of a reaction tube 20 filled with a photocatalyst, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated onto the water A passing through the reaction tube 20. Then, the water A that has passed through the photocatalytic device 18 is returned to the photocatalytic device 18 again by a circulation pump 23 and circulated for a predetermined time. The circulation pump 23 can also discharge water downstream, and a separation membrane 24 is provided on the downstream side to separate and recover remaining carbon dioxide.

[0031] The photocatalytic device 18 may also be provided with an ultrasonic generator 21 inside that generates ultrasonic waves in the water A in the reaction tube 20. The ultrasonic generator 21 is a device that collapses fine bubbles dissolved in the water. Fine bubbles are difficult to collapse due to their tiny size. When the bubbles are collapsed by the ultrasonic generator 21, energy is excited, which promotes the production of active oxygen. It is desirable that the wavelength band of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic generator 21 be higher than 120 kHz. This efficiently promotes the production of active oxygen.

[0032] The photocatalyst provided in the reaction tube 20 is formed of a carrier 22 made of metal processed into a flocculent form. Titanium oxide is attached to the carrier 22. Gas containing many electrons is attracted to the metal that forms the photocatalyst carrier 22, thereby increasing the contact efficiency. This promotes the generation of active oxygen using the photocatalyst. Active oxygen is generated from ozone by irradiating it with ultraviolet light from a UV lamp 19 in the presence of titanium oxide.

[0033] The titanium oxide is formed of brookite-type titanium dioxide. Brookite-type titanium dioxide is formed in an orthorhombic crystal system and has a complex crystal structure, making it a highly active substance. Therefore, it contributes easily to ozone activation, and because it is processed into a cotton-like form, the contact area is large, resulting in highly efficient photocatalytic activity. The metal attached to the carrier 22 is not limited to titanium oxide, and may be, for example, a conductor such as tungsten stainless steel.

[0034] The titanium oxide may be formed of decahedral titanium oxide, which has high crystallinity, suppresses recombination of electrons and holes, and exhibits a highly efficient photocatalytic effect.

[0035] In the manufacturing apparatus 10, water A is first poured into the water tank 11, and fine bubbles of ozone, a gas that generates active oxygen, are generated from the second fine bubble generating medium 16 and dissolved in the water. Furthermore, fine bubbles of carbon dioxide are generated from the first fine bubble generating medium 14 and dissolved in the water. Equal amounts of carbon dioxide and ozone are dissolved in the water A. In the presence of a photocatalyst, the water A containing ozone, a gas that generates active oxygen, is irradiated with ultraviolet light. As a result, active oxygen such as superoxide anion radicals and hydroxyl radicals are generated from the ozone that has become fine bubbles, as shown in reaction formula (1). 2O ３ → Active oxygen (O ２ －(1) Active oxygen such as superoxide anion radicals and hydroxyl radicals are substances in a highly excited state where electrons are excited. By directly supplying ozone as fine bubbles, the excitation energy intensity increases compared to when oxygen is supplied as fine bubbles to generate active oxygen via ozone, making it easier to generate active oxygen. At the same time, a reduction reaction of carbon dioxide that has become fine bubbles dissolved in water A occurs, as shown in reaction formula (2). CO ２ +H ２ O → CO + H ２ +O ２ (2)

[0036] Furthermore, the carbon dioxide dissolved as fine bubbles increases the reaction area and improves the reaction efficiency. The carbon dioxide dissolved as fine bubbles also becomes hyperelectronized, generating some excited singlet oxygen. This increases the amount of active oxygen produced.

[0037] The reduction reaction of carbon dioxide in the above reaction formula (2) occurs in the presence of the active oxygen generated in the above reaction formula (1), and therefore the reaction shown in reaction formula (3) proceeds, resulting in the synthesis of hydrocarbons. ２ +nCO→C ｎ H ２ｎ＋２ +nH ２ O (3) That is, hydrocarbons are synthesized by reducing carbon dioxide in the presence of active oxygen generated from ozone in the form of fine bubbles.

[0038] In this way, the production apparatus 10 is configured to generate fine bubbles of carbon dioxide and ozone, circulate water A containing the fine ozone bubbles, and irradiate it with ultraviolet light in the photocatalyst device 18 to reduce the carbon dioxide and synthesize hydrocarbons, so hydrocarbons can be easily synthesized simply by using water containing carbon dioxide and fine ozone bubbles (without forming a carbon dioxide gas column or a swirling flow of water).As a result, hydrocarbons can be synthesized efficiently.

[0039] In a manufacturing apparatus 10, water is supplied from a supply port to a water tank 11. Then, a first fine-bubble generating medium 14 and a second fine-bubble generating medium 16 are operated in the water tank 11 to supply fine bubbles of ozone and carbon dioxide into the water.

[0040] The carbon dioxide is sent to the internal space 14a of the first fine bubble generating medium 14, passes through tiny holes 14A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm provided in the first fine bubble generating medium 14, and moves to the surface of the first fine bubble generating medium 14. The carbon dioxide that moves to the surface of the first fine bubble generating medium 14 becomes fine bubbles and is released into the water by the force of the water flow supplied from the supply port. The dissolved concentration of the carbon dioxide fine bubbles released into the water is 108 / mL or more. This significantly increases the surface area of ​​the carbon dioxide fine bubbles, improving the reaction opportunity.

[0041] The ozone is sent into the internal space 16a of the second fine-bubble generating medium 16, passes through tiny holes 16A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm provided in the second fine-bubble generating medium 16, and moves to the surface of the second fine-bubble generating medium 16. The ozone that moves to the surface of the second fine-bubble generating medium 16 becomes fine bubbles and is released into the water by the force of the water flow supplied from the supply port. The dissolved concentration of the ozone fine bubbles released into the water is 108 / mL or more. This significantly increases the surface area of ​​the ozone fine bubbles, improving the reaction opportunity.

[0042] The water containing dissolved ozone and carbon dioxide was supplied to the photocatalytic device 18 at a flow rate of several to several tens of liters per minute, while being irradiated with ultraviolet light from a UV lamp 19 in the presence of titanium oxide (photocatalyst). The water was then circulated between the photocatalytic device 18 and the water tank 11 for 24 hours. The carrier 22 in the photocatalytic device 18 is made of metal and connected to a ground (not shown). Because the carrier 22 is made of metal, it is easier for minute bubbles of ozone and minute bubbles of carbon dioxide to be attracted, facilitating the reaction.

[0043] In order to retain (dissolve) the ozone and carbon dioxide sufficiently in the water tank 11, the ozone and carbon dioxide were continuously supplied to the water tank 11 to be dissolved as fine bubbles while the water was circulated between the photocatalytic device 18 and the water tank 11 for 24 hours. In addition, the upper surface of the water tank 11 was sealed with a sealant to prevent the generated hydrocarbons from volatilizing.

[0044] [Example 2] In another example of the manufacturing apparatus 10, an intermediate product reduction device 29 may be provided downstream of the photocatalytic device 18. The intermediate product reduction device 29 is a device that dissolves a reducing agent containing hydrogen as fine bubbles in the intermediate product B, which contains carbon dioxide that could not be reduced to hydrocarbons in the photocatalytic device 18, to reduce the oxidation-reduction potential of the intermediate product B to a negative (-) value. The intermediate product B contains carbon dioxide that could not be reduced to hydrocarbons and does not contain a sufficient amount of hydrocarbons, making it unsuitable for use as fuel. Therefore, a reducing agent containing hydrogen gas is dissolved as fine bubbles to reduce the intermediate product B and reduce the oxidation-reduction potential to a negative (-) value, thereby reforming the intermediate product B so that it can be used as a hydrogen-containing fuel. As shown in FIG. 3 , the intermediate product reduction device 29 includes an intermediate product water tank 30 that temporarily stores the intermediate product B and a third fine bubble generating medium 31, which is a third fine bubble generating member that dissolves a reducing agent containing hydrogen gas as fine bubbles.

[0045] The third micro-bubble generating medium 31 is made of a carbon-based porous material and has a large number of fine pores 31A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm, as shown in Fig. 4. The third micro-bubble generating medium 31 is an electrical conductor, and the bubbles generated from the third micro-bubble generating medium 31 are negatively charged. In other words, free electrons are added to the micro-bubbles as they pass through the third micro-bubble generating medium 31, which is an electrical conductor, and the micro-bubbles are thereby negatively charged. This negative charge causes the bubbles to repel each other, preventing them from coalescing and forming larger bubbles.

[0046] Carbon-based porous materials are inorganic materials that are composed of only carbon or a composite material containing carbon and ceramic. A film several nanometers thick is formed on the surface of the carbon-based porous material. The film is made of an inorganic film containing silicon. Carbon-based porous materials are oxidation-resistant, do not rust, and do not deteriorate due to oxidation even when placed in water for a long period of time. Furthermore, the surface is made of an inorganic film containing silicon, making them resistant to dirt adhesion.

[0047] The third fine-bubble generating member, which dissolves the reducing agent gas as fine bubbles, is formed of a cylindrical third fine-bubble generating medium 31. The reducing agent gas contains hydrogen, and hydrogen atoms are added to hydrocarbons and unreacted carbon dioxide using the hydrogen as a reducing agent. The reduction reaction takes place in a hydrogenation catalyst device 33. The third fine-bubble generating medium 31 has an internal space 31a connected to a hydrogen supply device 32.

[0048] In the hydrogenation catalyst device 33, the intermediate product B is supplied at a predetermined flow rate into the inside of a reaction tube 34 filled with a catalyst, thereby making the reduction potential of the intermediate product a negative (-) value.

[0049] By configuring it in this way, it becomes possible to use imperfect fuels containing carbon dioxide that has not been completely synthesized into hydrocarbons as alternative fuels.

[0050] As described above, the method for producing hydrocarbons according to the present invention includes dissolving carbon dioxide as fine bubbles in water, dissolving an active oxygen-generating gas as fine bubbles, irradiating the water containing the fine bubbles of the active oxygen-generating gas with ultraviolet light in the presence of a photocatalyst to generate active oxygen, and contacting the carbon dioxide fine bubbles in the presence of the active oxygen to reduce the active oxygen, wherein the fine bubbles of the active oxygen-generating gas are dissolved in the water at a concentration of 10 to the power of 8 or more per mL, the carbon dioxide fine bubbles are dissolved in the water at a concentration of 10 to the power of 8 or more per mL, and the gas that generates active oxygen includes ozone. With this configuration, ozone, which can be generated more efficiently than oxygen as a gas that generates active oxygen, is supplied as fine bubbles, thereby increasing the reaction opportunity and accelerating the synthesis of hydrocarbons.

[0051] Alternatively, ultrasonic waves may be applied to the water to collapse the microscopic bubbles of ozone and carbon dioxide that generate active oxygen. By configuring in this way, energy is excited when the microscopic bubbles of ozone and carbon dioxide are collapsed, making it easier to generate active oxygen.

[0052] Furthermore, the fine carbon dioxide bubbles remaining in the synthesized hydrocarbon may be separated by a separation membrane. By configuring in this way, the quality of the hydrocarbon can be improved by removing the fine carbon dioxide bubbles from the hydrocarbon.

[0053] Alternatively, the photocatalyst may be formed of a carrier made of metal processed into a flocculent form, with titanium oxide attached to the carrier. By configuring it in this way, active oxygen is generated from ozone by irradiating ultraviolet light from a UV lamp 19 in the presence of titanium oxide.

[0054] The titanium oxide may be brookite-type titanium dioxide. This configuration can promote ozone activation, and the cotton-like processing increases the contact area, resulting in highly efficient photocatalytic action.

[0055] The titanium oxide may be a decahedral titanium oxide. By configuring it in this way, the recombination of electrons and holes is suppressed, and the photocatalytic action is exerted with high efficiency.

[0056] A reducing agent containing hydrogen may be dissolved in the form of fine bubbles in the intermediate product containing carbon dioxide that could not be reduced to hydrocarbons, thereby making the oxidation-reduction potential of the intermediate product a negative (-) value. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to use incomplete fuel containing carbon dioxide that could not be completely synthesized into hydrocarbons as an alternative fuel.

[0057] Furthermore, the hydrocarbon production apparatus 10 of the present invention includes a first fine-bubble generating member 14 for dissolving carbon dioxide as fine bubbles, a second fine-bubble generating member 16 for dissolving ozone as fine bubbles, and a UV lamp 19 for irradiating ultraviolet light onto water containing ozone fine bubbles in the presence of a photocatalyst, and the carbon dioxide fine bubbles are reduced by contacting them with the water in the presence of highly reactive ozone generated by irradiating the water containing the ozone fine bubbles with ultraviolet light using the UV lamp 19, wherein the ozone fine bubbles are dissolved in the water at a concentration of 10 to the power of 8 or more per mL, and the carbon dioxide fine bubbles are dissolved in the water at a concentration of 10 to the power of 8 or more per mL. With this configuration, ozone, which is a gas more potent at generating active oxygen than oxygen, is supplied in the form of fine bubbles, thereby increasing the reaction opportunity and promoting hydrocarbon synthesis.

[0058] The present invention can be applied to techniques for producing hydrocarbons using fine bubbles and to apparatus therefor.

[0059] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Manufacturing apparatus 11 Water tank 14 First fine bubble generating medium 15 Carbon dioxide supply device 16 Second fine bubble generating medium 17 Ozone supply device 18 Photocatalytic device 19 UV lamp (ultraviolet ray irradiation member) 20 Reaction tube 21 Ultrasonic generator 29 Intermediate product reduction device 30 Water tank 31 Third fine bubble generating medium 32 Hydrogen supply device 33 Hydrogenation catalyst device 34 Reaction tube A Water B Intermediate product

Claims

1. A method for producing hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: dissolving carbon dioxide as fine bubbles in water; dissolving a gas that generates active oxygen as fine bubbles; generating the active oxygen by irradiating ultraviolet light onto water containing the fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen in the presence of a photocatalyst; and reducing the active oxygen by contacting the fine bubbles of carbon dioxide in the presence of the active oxygen, wherein the fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen are dissolved in the water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles or more per mL; the fine bubbles of carbon dioxide are dissolved in the water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles or more per mL; and the gas that generates active oxygen includes ozone.

2. The method for producing hydrocarbons according to claim 1, characterized in that ultrasonic waves are irradiated into the water to collapse the fine bubbles of gas and carbon dioxide which generate the active oxygen.

3. The method for producing hydrocarbons according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: subjecting the gas that produces the active oxygen to silent discharge, thereby dissolving the gas containing a large number of electrons in the form of fine bubbles.

4. The method for producing hydrocarbons according to claim 1, characterized in that the photocatalyst is formed of a carrier made of metal processed into a flocculent form, and titanium oxide is attached to the carrier.

5. The method for producing hydrocarbons according to claim 4, characterized in that the titanium oxide is brookite-type titanium dioxide.

6. The method for producing hydrocarbons according to claim 4, characterized in that the titanium oxide is a decahedral titanium oxide.

7. The method for producing hydrocarbons according to claim 1, further comprising dissolving a reducing agent containing hydrogen in the form of fine bubbles in the intermediate product containing carbon dioxide that could not be reduced to hydrocarbons, thereby making the oxidation-reduction potential of the intermediate product a negative (-) value.

8. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons comprising: a water tank for storing water; a first fine-bubble generating member for dissolving carbon dioxide as fine bubbles; a second fine-bubble generating member for dissolving a gas that generates active oxygen as fine bubbles; and an ultraviolet irradiation member for irradiating the water containing fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen with ultraviolet light in the presence of a photocatalyst, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation member irradiates the water containing fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen with ultraviolet light, thereby reducing the carbon dioxide fine bubbles by contacting them in the presence of active oxygen generated by the ultraviolet irradiation member, wherein the fine bubbles of the gas that generates active oxygen are dissolved in the water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles per mL or more, the carbon dioxide fine bubbles are dissolved in the water at a rate of 10 to the power of 8 bubbles per mL or more, and the gas that generates active oxygen includes ozone.

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