LAUSR

One of the main initiatives for fighting climate change is using CO2 as a resource instead of waste. In this respect, thermocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation to high-added-value chemicals is a promising process. Researchers are working on converting CO2 to alcohols, lower olefins, gasoline or aromatics. Olefins are mainly produced from fossil fuel sources, but the increasing demand of plastics boosts the need to develop alternative routes. Here we give a critical overview on the most recent achievements in direct CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins, which can take place by two competitive routes: the modified Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and the methanol-mediated synthesis. Both routes are compared in terms of catalyst development, reaction performance and reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, we discuss the practical aspects of the commercialization of this reaction, such as renewable H2 production and CO2 capture, compression and transport.