Fischer-Tropsch-based catalysts: A consideration for the utilisation of CO2 by hydrogenation

Abstract

Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has contributed largely to worldwide climate change because of its increasing concentration in the atmosphere through natural causes and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, there is urgent need for CO 2 to be captured, stored or potentially utilised as a carbon resource to produce valuable compounds and products (i.e., renewable fuels). Replacing fossil fuels with renewable fuels will in turn mitigate the effect of greenhouse as well as help to meet the increasing global energy concerns and demands. The hydrogenation of CO 2 by a heterogeneous catalytic process called Fischer-Tropsch process to produce hydrocarbons such as olefins and paraffins is of great interest. However, the hydrogenation of CO 2 co-produces a large amount of H 2 O and designing catalysts for this reaction that are H 2 O resistant with high olefins and paraffins or isoparaffins (i.e., C 2+ hydrocarbons) productions is quite challenging. In this review, we provide the basis or the different ways Fischer-Tropsch-based catalysts can be used to produce C 2+ hydrocarbon products from CO 2 and H 2 or H 2 + CO. The different ways Fischer-Tropsch-based catalyst systems can be used are addressed and set out in turn, so that researchers can identify the most effective CO 2 mitigation and utilisation processes to produce C 2+ hydrocarbon products by Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Studies have depicted that a co-catalyst such as Co and Cu can be used to enhance the functionalities of Fischer-Tropsch-based catalysts for production of C 2+ hydrocarbons. Most zeolites can also be used as effective and efficient catalysts in fine-tuning the product distribution of CO 2 hydrogenation reaction.