ABSTRACT
This chapter compiles the most recent technologies aimed at converting one of the most abundant and harmful greenhouse gases to fuels. The technologies range from classical CO2 hydrogenation to photocatalytic conversion. Each section contains a historical summary of the processes, recent developments, and a future perspective.
Hydrocarbon fuels are currently the most important source of energy due to their availability and high energy density [1]. However, their usage has led to a dramatic increase of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration, in particular CO2 [2], to values considered menacing to human life, urging the development of strategies to remedy the problem. One of the strategies to lower CO2 emissions is to capture and store it in a geological formation; however, the process is energetically demanding and it is not leakage free. Potential risks associated with CO2 leakage should be alerted because a rapid release of CO2 can result in serious accidents as witnessed by the death of 1700 people, by asphyxiation, in Lake Nyos, Cameroon, in 1986 [3].
