CO2 reuse chemically

The fight against climate change represents a major challenge for contemporary society. Therefore, the control of atmospheric CO ₂ emissions is a priority in policies aimed at limiting global warming. Viewing CO ₂ as a valuable resource opens up new perspectives, both environmentally and economically. There are various industrial applications that capitalize on CO ₂ . These include, for example, biological valorization pathways or direct utilization without transformation, which, so far, only allow for a limited volume utilization of CO ₂ . Another approach to valorization, through chemical transformation, uses CO ₂ as a reactant to produce a valuable or energy-rich product.

This article will outline the primary techniques used to valorize CO ₂ by chemical means such as mineralization, organic synthesis, hydrogenation, dry reforming, electrolysis, photocatalysis, thermochemistry... Developments in certain valorisation techniques are closely monitored by the scientific and industrial community, notably in the case of methanation, which potentially enables the direct transformation of CO ₂ from a combustion facility into “renewable” methane.

Despite the interesting potential for CO ₂ utilization, different valorization pathways are not at the same stage of technological maturity. They continue to face specific challenges related to technical and technological aspects, expertise, resource supply, and economic viability, particularly when transformed CO ₂ competes with fossil resources in the energy market.