Direct Conversion of CO2 in Lime Kiln Waste Gas Catalyzed by a Copper-Based N-heterocyclic Carbene Porous Polymer

Industrial waste gas is one of the major sources of atmospheric CO2, yet the direct conversion of the low concentrations of CO2 in waste gases into high value-added chemicals have been a great challenge. Herein, a copper-based N-heterocyclic carbene porous polymer catalyst (Cu@NHC-1) for the direct conversion of low concentration CO2 into oxazolidinones was successfully fabricated via a facile copolymerization process followed by the complexation with Cu(OAc)(2). A continuous flow device was designed to deliver a continuous and stable carbon source for the reaction. Due to the triple synergistic effect of its porous structure, nitrogen activation sites and catalytic Cu center, Cu@NHC-1 shows highly efficient and selective adsorption, activation, and conversion of the low concentration CO2 (30 vol%). Its practical application potential is demonstrated by the ability to successfully convert the CO2 in lime kiln waste gas into oxazolidinones in satisfactory yields under mild conditions.

Automated summary

A copper-based N-heterocyclic carbene porous polymer catalyst (Cu@NHC-1) was successfully fabricated for the direct conversion of low concentration CO2 into oxazolidinones. Cu@NHC-1 shows highly efficient and selective adsorption, activation, and conversion of the low concentration CO2 due to its porous structure, nitrogen activation sites, and catalytic Cu center. The practical application potential of Cu@NHC-1 was demonstrated by successfully converting CO2 in lime kiln waste gas into oxazolidinones under mild conditions.