Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefins

The hydrogenation of CO2 to light olefins using renewable hydrogen presents a promising strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the growing demand for sustainable industrial chemicals. This review focuses on the oxygenate-mediated species involved in the CO2 conversion route,...

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Main Authors: Fatemeh Biabangard, Jafar Towfighi Darian, Masoud Safari Yazd
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of CO2 Utilization
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212982025001337
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author Fatemeh Biabangard
Jafar Towfighi Darian
Masoud Safari Yazd
author_facet Fatemeh Biabangard
Jafar Towfighi Darian
Masoud Safari Yazd
author_sort Fatemeh Biabangard
collection DOAJ
description The hydrogenation of CO2 to light olefins using renewable hydrogen presents a promising strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the growing demand for sustainable industrial chemicals. This review focuses on the oxygenate-mediated species involved in the CO2 conversion route, a highly selective and efficient alternative to traditional Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Central to this process are bifunctional catalysts, which integrate metal oxides for CO2 activation and zeolites for hydrocarbon formation, enabling tandem catalysis. Key catalyst components, such as ZnO, Cu, ZrO2, and In2O3, play critical roles in CO2 adsorption, stabilization of intermediates like methanol, methoxy, and ketene, and their subsequent conversion into light olefins via distinct pathways, including the ketene, formate, and dimethyl ether (DME) routes. Advances in catalyst design, encompassing morphology, active site proximity, and surface modification, alongside the optimization of operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, and space velocity, have significantly enhanced catalytic efficiency and product selectivity. Furthermore, innovations in zeolite frameworks like SAPO-34, with their shape-selective properties, have contributed to minimizing by-products and maximizing olefin yield. This comprehensive analysis provides insights into the factors influencing catalytic performance, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research to overcome challenges such as catalyst deactivation and scalability. By integrating advanced catalyst designs with optimized process parameters, this study outlines a roadmap for sustainable CO2-to-olefin conversion, contributing to environmental protection and a circular carbon economy.
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spelling doaj-art-1e8de6112fca44e7a454dc0653e6cbca2025-08-20T02:10:01ZengElsevierJournal of CO2 Utilization2212-98392025-08-019810314910.1016/j.jcou.2025.103149Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefinsFatemeh Biabangard0Jafar Towfighi Darian1Masoud Safari Yazd2Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Department of Process, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-143, Tehran, IranCorresponding author.; Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Department of Process, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-143, Tehran, IranFaculty of Chemical Engineering, Department of Process, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-143, Tehran, IranThe hydrogenation of CO2 to light olefins using renewable hydrogen presents a promising strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the growing demand for sustainable industrial chemicals. This review focuses on the oxygenate-mediated species involved in the CO2 conversion route, a highly selective and efficient alternative to traditional Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Central to this process are bifunctional catalysts, which integrate metal oxides for CO2 activation and zeolites for hydrocarbon formation, enabling tandem catalysis. Key catalyst components, such as ZnO, Cu, ZrO2, and In2O3, play critical roles in CO2 adsorption, stabilization of intermediates like methanol, methoxy, and ketene, and their subsequent conversion into light olefins via distinct pathways, including the ketene, formate, and dimethyl ether (DME) routes. Advances in catalyst design, encompassing morphology, active site proximity, and surface modification, alongside the optimization of operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, and space velocity, have significantly enhanced catalytic efficiency and product selectivity. Furthermore, innovations in zeolite frameworks like SAPO-34, with their shape-selective properties, have contributed to minimizing by-products and maximizing olefin yield. This comprehensive analysis provides insights into the factors influencing catalytic performance, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research to overcome challenges such as catalyst deactivation and scalability. By integrating advanced catalyst designs with optimized process parameters, this study outlines a roadmap for sustainable CO2-to-olefin conversion, contributing to environmental protection and a circular carbon economy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212982025001337CO2 hydrogenationLight olefinsMechanismTandem catalyst
spellingShingle Fatemeh Biabangard
Jafar Towfighi Darian
Masoud Safari Yazd
Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefins
Journal of CO2 Utilization
CO2 hydrogenation
Light olefins
Mechanism
Tandem catalyst
title Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefins
title_full Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefins
title_fullStr Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefins
title_full_unstemmed Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefins
title_short Oxygenate-mediated catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation: A sustainable path to light olefins
title_sort oxygenate mediated catalysis for co2 hydrogenation a sustainable path to light olefins
topic CO2 hydrogenation
Light olefins
Mechanism
Tandem catalyst
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212982025001337
work_keys_str_mv AT fatemehbiabangard oxygenatemediatedcatalysisforco2hydrogenationasustainablepathtolightolefins
AT jafartowfighidarian oxygenatemediatedcatalysisforco2hydrogenationasustainablepathtolightolefins
AT masoudsafariyazd oxygenatemediatedcatalysisforco2hydrogenationasustainablepathtolightolefins