Possible Ways for CO 2 Reduction into Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The growing global economy and population indicate that global energy consumption will continue to rise. Fossil fuel burning currently provides for about 85% of the worldwide energy supply. Greenhouse gases like methane (CH 4 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) released by the combustion of fossil fuels into the atmosphere, result in global warming and climate change with negative consequences for the environment and human civilization. CO 2 has been identified as the most significant greenhouse gas among these. A wide variety of CO 2 reduction strategies have been developed to reduce CO 2 emissions and ameliorate the greenhouse impact. Chemical, thermal, and photo (electro) catalytic conversion processes, enzymatic conversion processes (biological and biochemical), and physical processes are the three primary methods for turning CO 2 into usable chemicals and fuels. Various CO 2 reduction methods are compared in this chapter, and the merits as well as demerits of each method have been summarized. Owing to the moderate working conditions, low energy requirements, and cleaner processes, photocatalytic and photo-electrocatalytic conversion of CO 2 into fuel and chemicals are the most appealing.