Direct conversion of CO₂ into aromatics over multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts

ABSTRACT

The conversion of CO₂ into fuels and value-added chemicals over heterogeneous catalysts may help realize a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative society. Recently, the direct conversion of CO₂ to aromatics has been extensively explored. However, the requirement of multifunctional active sites, complexity of tandem cascade reactions, and difficulty in understanding reaction mechanisms present significant challenges to the design of effective heterogeneous catalysts. In this review, catalytic systems used for the direct production of aromatics from CO₂ via the methanol-mediated and modified Fischer–Tropsch synthesis pathways are critically discussed. The initial section discusses the role of acid sites in HZSM-5 for the formation of aromatics. This is followed by a thorough review of recent progress on aromatic syntheses in terms of their catalytic performance, Si/Al ratios of zeolites, proximity between metal oxide and zeolite, and reaction conditions. The reaction mechanisms and the stability of existing catalysts are also discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of the catalytic conversion of CO₂ to aromatics are highlighted.

KEYWORDS:

• CO₂ hydrogenation
• aromatics
• composite catalysts
• zeolites
• reaction mechanism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning(KETEP) granted financial resource from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea(No. 20224C10300010).