Thermodynamics of CO₂ Conversion

The work has looked at possible processes to utilise atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) as well as the thermodynamic complexities involved in trying to convert CO₂ to other useful fuels. Thermodynamic data from literature, as well as simple calculations from the Attainable Region, have shown that most CO₂ conversion processes with water (H₂O) require heat and work addition as the enthalpy and Gibbs free energy are positive. The Sabatier reaction that produces methane (CH₄) and H₂O and reverse water–gas shift (rWGS) which make syngas (carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂)) is possible reactions in utilising CO_2, but all occur at the expense of feeding in H₂ with CO₂ in the presence of a catalyst. The outcome of this research suggests that it is important to try and stop CO₂ emissions at source. This is because thermodynamics shows that the reaction processes involving CO₂ are not sustainable when trying to make fuel as a product.