CHAPTER 1: A Fundamental Approach Towards Carbon Dioxide Conversion to Chemicals and Fuels: Current Trends for CO₂ Utilization Technologies

The unrestrained release of CO₂ into the atmosphere that is leading to global warming is the main problem being tackled currently. Scavenging atmospheric CO₂ and converting it to valuable fuels and chemicals is an approach with dual benefits. The foremost difficulties associated with the conversion of a small molecule like CO₂ are the high capital costs, thermodynamic stability, and kinetic confines. Despite such issues, a large number of approaches for CO₂ capture, and conversion techniques like electrochemical, photocatalysis, thermal, and biological have been initiated, investigated, and developed so far. The conventional technologies that are used in these progressions often suffer from low conversion, energy efficiency, and selectivity. The current research strategies need to consider appropriate process intensification techniques with innovative explorations to attain this ideal reaction. Currently, there exist very limited intensifying technologies that are sufficiently potent for industrial applications. This gap could be filled by intensive research that evaluates the potency of various suitable technologies to make the world more climate-friendly. Finally, research challenges that are in the early stages and the future directions that will raise these process to industrially viable technologies are also discussed.