Simultaneous Epoxidation and CO Formation: Harvesting Oxygen from Carbon Dioxide

In recent efforts to address atmospheric CO2 accumulation, its conversion into valuable chemicals has gained momentum, particularly within the Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) framework. A prime focus is converting CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO), a vital intermediary in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis for hydrocarbon production. This research highlights a novel use of CO2 for producing atomic oxygen, serving as an eco-friendly oxidant to convert alkenes into epoxides, with CO as a byproduct. This dual functionality is realized through an advanced gas–liquid microfluidic system, significantly outperforming traditional methods by ensuring superior mass transfer efficiency. The process not only achieves impressive epoxide yields of up to 90% but also facilitates the propagation of oxygen atoms over a distance of 30 mm in the system, thus preventing the recombination of oxygen and CO. This enhancement is crucial for augmenting CO production, which can be further utilized in creating complex hydrocarbons. Operated under mild conditions without the need for a catalyst, this method underscores the potential of CO2 plasma discharge in activating olefin epoxidation in a controlled, selective manner, offering a promising avenue for environmentally friendly chemical synthesis.