(513u) Conversion Processes of Carbon Dioxide into Useful Chemicals

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the key contributor to the greenhouse gas emission effect and one of the leading detrimental gaseous compounds that our planet faces. Though there are other natural sources of CO₂ emission, but the largest source of it is from human-related activities amongst which fossil fuel combustion process is the major cause. In 2017, CO₂ gas emission was approximately 82% of all the greenhouse gases (GHG) released through human activities in the US alone. In general, human activities give rise to the global CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere thereby altered the earth’s carbon cycle and result in climate change and global warming. This paper focuses on the conversion processes of captured CO₂ into useful chemicals such as urea, dimethyl ether (DME), methanol and long-chain liquid hydrocarbon (HC) fuels. Technologies used in the combustion processes and how captured CO₂ serves as feedstock for the production of these useful chemicals are discussed. The concept of power-to-liquid fuels using CO₂ among other routes is an important clean energy route when successfully implemented. This will extensively reduce the global dependence on fossil fuel thereby mitigates the undesirable impact of the CO₂ as a greenhouse gas. The limiting factors to CO₂ conversion processes include the cost of the energy and the hydrogen. Therefore, catalyst for high selectivity and conversion for optimum product yield is ultimately needed. A further study on the development of mixed catalyst needed for high selectivity and optimum product yield from CO₂ conversion processes particularly in the pilot scale at reduced cost is recommended.