Direct Conversion of CO2 in Lime Kiln Waste Gas Catalyzed by a Copper-Based N-heterocyclic Carbene Porous Polymer.

Abstract

Industrial waste gas is one of the major sources of atmospheric CO2 , yet the direct conversion of the low concentrations of CO2 in waste gases into high value-added chemicals have been a great challenge. Herein, a copper-based N-heterocyclic carbene porous polymer catalyst (Cu@NHC-1) for the direct conversion of low concentration CO2 into oxazolidinones was successfully fabricated via a facile copolymerization process followed by the complexation with Cu(OAc)2 . A continuous flow device was designed to deliver a continuous and stable carbon source for the reaction. Due to the triple synergistic effect of its porous structure, nitrogen activation sites and catalytic Cu center, Cu@NHC-1 shows highly efficient and selective adsorption, activation, and conversion of the low concentration CO2 (30 vol%). Its practical application potential is demonstrated by the ability to successfully convert the CO2 in lime kiln waste gas into oxazolidinones in satisfactory yields under mild conditions.