Two major energy-related problems confront the world in the
next 50 years. First, increased worldwide competition for
gradually depleting fossil fuel reserves (derived from past
photosynthesis) will lead to higher costs, both monetarily and politically. Second, atmospheric CO_2 levels are at their highest recorded level since records began. Further increases are predicted to produce large and uncontrollable impacts on the world climate. These projected impacts extend beyond climate to ocean acidification, because the ocean is a major sink for atmospheric CO2.1 Providing a future energy supply that is secure and CO_2-neutral will require switching to nonfossil energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, and geothermal energy and developing methods for transforming the energy produced by these new sources into forms that can be stored, transported, and used upon demand.

Frontiers, Opportunities, and Challenges in Biochemical and Chemical Catalysis of CO2 Fixation

A review of the aqueous electrochemical reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons at copper

Nature’s photosynthesis uses the sun’s energy with chlorophyll in plants as a catalyst to recycle carbon dioxide and water into new plant life. Only given sufficient geological time can new fossil fuels be formed naturally. In contrast, chemical recycling of carbon dioxide from natural and industrial sources as well as varied human activities or even from the air itself to methanol or dimethyl ether (DME) and their varied products can be achieved via its capture and subsequent reductive hydrogenative conversion. The present Perspective reviews this new approach and our research in the field over the last 15 years. Carbon recycling represents a significant aspect of our proposed Methanol Economy. Any available energy source (alternative energies such as solar, wind, geothermal, and atomic energy) can be used for the production of needed hydrogen and chemical conversion of CO2. Improved new methods for the efficient reductive conversion of CO2 to methanol and/or DME that we have developed include bireformin...

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Chemical recycling of carbon dioxide to methanol and dimethyl ether: from greenhouse gas to renewable, environmentally carbon neutral fuels and synthetic hydrocarbons.

The increase in the global atmospheric CO2 concentration resulting from over a century of combustion of fossil fuels has been associated with significant global climate change. With the global population increase driving continued increases in fossil fuel use, humanity’s primary reliance on fossil energy for the next several decades is assured. Traditional modes of carbon capture such as precombustion and postcombustion CO2 capture from large point sources can help slow the rate of increase of the atmospheric CO2 concentration, but only the direct removal of CO2 from the air, or “direct air capture” (DAC), can actually reduce the global atmospheric CO2 concentration. The past decade has seen a steep rise in the use of chemical sorbents that are cycled through sorption and desorption cycles for CO2 removal from ultradilute gases such as air. This Review provides a historical overview of the field of DAC, along with an exhaustive description of the use of chemical sorbents targeted at this application. Solv...

Direct Capture of CO2 from Ambient Air

Starting with coal, followed by petroleum oil and natural gas, the utilization of fossil fuels has allowed the fast and unprecedented development of human society. However, the burning of these resources in ever increasing pace is accompanied by large amounts of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which are outpacing the natural carbon cycle, causing adverse global environmental changes, the full extent of which is still unclear. Even through fossil fuels are still abundant, they are nevertheless limited and will, in time, be depleted. Chemical recycling of CO2 to renewable fuels and materials, primarily methanol, offers a powerful alternative to tackle both issues, that is, global climate change and fossil fuel depletion. The energy needed for the reduction of CO2 can come from any renewable energy source such as solar and wind. Methanol, the simplest C1 liquid product that can be easily obtained from any carbon source, including biomass and CO2, has been proposed as a key component of such an anthropogenic carbon cycle in the framework of a “Methanol Economy”. Methanol itself is an excellent fuel for internal combustion engines, fuel cells, stoves, etc. It's dehydration product, dimethyl ether, is a diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) substitute. Furthermore, methanol can be transformed to ethylene, propylene and most of the petrochemical products currently obtained from fossil fuels. The conversion of CO2 to methanol is discussed in detail in this review.

Recycling of carbon dioxide to methanol and derived products – closing the loop

Methanol from atmospheric carbon dioxide : A liquid zero emission fuel for the future

CO2 recycling for hydrogen storage and transportation —Electrochemical CO2 removal and fixation

CO2 removal and fixation solar high temperature syngas generation for fuel synthesis

The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing a carbon dioxide low, hydrogen-rich gas or a conditioned synthesis gas from carbonaceous feedstock by pyrolysis and/or steam reforming reaction. According to the invention, the pyrolysis and/or the steam reforming reaction of the carbonaceous feedstock is carried out in the presence of an exothermic CO2-binding absorbing material in such a manner that any carbon dioxide produced is completely or partially in a controlled manner separated from the product gas produced, thereby providing it in the form of a carbon dioxide low, hydrogen-rich gas or a conditioned synthesis gas. In a second process step, the absorbing material is periodically regenerated by a thermal desorption reaction while releasing CO2. The invention also relates to the use of the method and device for the stationary or mobile production of a hydrogen gas for stationary and mobile fuel cell systems or of a conditioned synthesis gas for example for the methanol synthesis.

Method and device for producing a hydrogen or synthesis gas and use thereof

Preparation of a product gas through thermochemical gasification of a carbon containing use material (preferably biomass) comprises: (a) a low temperature gasification of the carbon containing use material in presence of an exothermic carbon dioxide-bound absorber materials to give tar poor product gas; and (b) regeneration of the absorber material through a thermal desorption reaction under carbon dioxide release. An independent claim is also included for a device for the production of a product gas by thermochemical gasification of a carbon-containing used material (preferably biomass), under use of the preparation method, comprising at least a gasification reactor unit for the low-temperature gasification of the carbon-containing used material in presence of exothermal carbon dioxide-bound absorber substance for the production of a tar-poor product gas; and an arrangement for the periodic thermal desorption of the absorber substance under carbon dioxide-release.

Michael Specht

Papers

Methanol from atmospheric carbon dioxide : A liquid zero emission fuel for the future

CO2 recycling for hydrogen storage and transportation —Electrochemical CO2 removal and fixation

CO2 removal and fixation solar high temperature syngas generation for fuel synthesis

Method and device for producing a hydrogen or synthesis gas and use thereof

Process and system for thermal gasification of compounds containing hydrocarbons