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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_17
Synthesis of Novel Catalysts for Carbon
Dioxide Conversion to Products of Value
Onochie Okonkwo and Pratim Biswas
Abstract This chapter is a description of methodologies for the conversion of carbon dioxide to products of value using catalytic processes. Accumulation of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere is a major problem and an optimal solution is to capture
and convert it to useful products. In this chapter, first, the climate challenges due to
increasing carbon dioxide emissions, the earth’s carbon cycle, sources of carbon
dioxide emissions and carbon dioxide capture are discussed. Second, carbon dioxide utilization processes such as enhanced oil recovery, and conversion methodologies including photo-conversion, bio-conversion and catalytic conversion processes
are discussed. Third, the importance of scale for carbon dioxide utilization is discussed, and the catalytic conversion pathway is identified as a potential route for
utilization in large scales. Wet and gas phase aerosol synthesis methods for catalysts
are discussed followed by characterization methods. And finally, a futuristic application on the potential for utilization of carbon dioxide via reforming processes on
Mars is presented.
Keywords Carbon cycle · CO 2 emission · CO 2 capture · CO 2 conversion · CO 2
reforming in space · Aerosol catalysts
1 Introduction
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere is receiving significant attention lately,
primarily due to increasing levels in the atmosphere and its impact on global climate
change. Anthropogenic sources are a major contributor, and approaches to prevent
the release should be explored and implemented. Due to the continued dependence
on fossil fuels, a very large volume is released to the atmosphere. While
O. Okonkwo · P. Biswas (*)
Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory, Department of Energy, Environment and
Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
e-mail: pbiswas@wustl.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_17
Synthesis of Novel Catalysts for Carbon
Dioxide Conversion to Products of Value
Onochie Okonkwo and Pratim Biswas
Abstract This chapter is a description of methodologies for the conversion of carbon dioxide to products of value using catalytic processes. Accumulation of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere is a major problem and an optimal solution is to capture
and convert it to useful products. In this chapter, first, the climate challenges due to
increasing carbon dioxide emissions, the earth’s carbon cycle, sources of carbon
dioxide emissions and carbon dioxide capture are discussed. Second, carbon dioxide utilization processes such as enhanced oil recovery, and conversion methodologies including photo-conversion, bio-conversion and catalytic conversion processes
are discussed. Third, the importance of scale for carbon dioxide utilization is discussed, and the catalytic conversion pathway is identified as a potential route for
utilization in large scales. Wet and gas phase aerosol synthesis methods for catalysts
are discussed followed by characterization methods. And finally, a futuristic application on the potential for utilization of carbon dioxide via reforming processes on
Mars is presented.
Keywords Carbon cycle · CO 2 emission · CO 2 capture · CO 2 conversion · CO 2
reforming in space · Aerosol catalysts
1 Introduction
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere is receiving significant attention lately,
primarily due to increasing levels in the atmosphere and its impact on global climate
change. Anthropogenic sources are a major contributor, and approaches to prevent
the release should be explored and implemented. Due to the continued dependence
on fossil fuels, a very large volume is released to the atmosphere. While
O. Okonkwo · P. Biswas (*)
Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory, Department of Energy, Environment and
Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
e-mail: pbiswas@wustl.edu