Utilisation of CO2 as a chemical feedstock: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

The need to reduce the accumulation of CO(2) into the atmosphere requires new technologies able to reduce the CO(2) emission. The utilization of CO(2) as a building block may represent an interesting approach to synthetic methodologies less intensive in carbon and energy. In this paper the general properties of carbon dioxide and its interaction with metal centres is first considered. The potential of carbon dioxide as a raw material in the synthesis of chemicals such as carboxylates, carbonates, carbamates is then discussed. The utilization of CO(2) as source of carbon for the synthesis of fuels or other C(1) molecules such as formic acid and methanol is also described and the conditions for its implementation are outlined. A comparison of chemical and biotechnological conversion routes of CO(2) is made and the barriers to their exploitation are highlighted.

A theoretical thermodynamic investigation of cascade reactions in dinuclear octa-azacryptates involving carbon dioxide

“…Here, one can see that the interaction between the lone pairs of oxygen atoms in monomethylcarbonate and the antibonding 3d-orbitals of metal cations contribute 14 significantly to the stabilisation of complexes. However, the overall orbital interaction between monomethylcarbonate fragment and the dinuclear cryptate ∑ (2) → follows the same trend of the overall stability of the complexes. This indicates the significant dependence of stability of complexes on these orbital interactions.…”

“…As a result of potentially alarming reports which link global warming to the steadily increasing concentration of anthropogenic CO 2 in the atmosphere, there is currently much effort underway to 'mimic' CO 2 fixation artificially [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…Thus, if rendered possible, the chemical activation of CO 2 could help serve to reduce its level in the atmosphere, while at the same time allowing CO 2 to be exploited as a carbon feedstock for the production of useful organic compounds [2].…”

Kinetic studies of CO 2 methanation over a Ni/ γ -Al 2 O 3 catalyst using a batch reactor

“…As a result, the increased availability of CO2 is likely to drive its cost down, so that heterogeneous catalysis could be used to convert CO2 to various chemicals such as methane, methanol, formic acid and dimethyl carbonate (Aresta et al, 2007;Ma et al, 2009). Of course, CO2 is thermodynamically very stable and the main challenge in converting it to other organic products is providing the free energy needed.…”

Active Site Elucidation in Heterogeneous Catalysis via In Situ X-Ray Spectroscopies

“…Current CO 2 utilization for chemical synthesis (principally urea) accounts for only 2 % of emitted CO 2 , but forecasts predict such approaches could mitigate 300-700 Mt (megatons) CO 2 per year, far larger than the combined potential for CO 2 abatement by nuclear, wind, and cellulosic biofuel technologies (,50 Mt CO 2 per year). [1] Indeed the recent CS3 White Paper 'A Sustainable Global Society' highlights photocatalytic CO 2 conversion to chemicals as an area where comprehensive fundamental materials chemistry research is essential. [2] While there has been much recent attention focussed on so-called solar fuels production (principally methane or methanol), interest in direct routes to solar chemicals is growing.…”