(188a) Using CO2 to Synthesize Commodity Chemicals

Carbon dioxide is an abundant waste product that contributes to poor atmospheric conditions. Advances have been made in using unwanted carbon dioxide for hydrogenation (C-H bond formation) and oxidation (C-O bond formation). Although the framework for carboxylation is found in carbon dioxide, C-C bond formation has been less explored. Efforts toward characterizing the principles that mediate C-C bond formation are presented. The mediation of crystallite size and metal content as well as variation in support materials have different effects on carbon dioxide activation toward C-C bond formation and toward dissociation. Synthesized catalysts are characterized for particle size, surface area, oxidation states, and reactivity using standard tools such as X-ray diffraction, physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and a plug flow reactor. Ultimately, our aim is to understand how to use these principles to form carboxylic acids such as acrylic acid from carbon dioxide and ethylene.