Chemical fixation of CO2 conducted by Mg-based materials catalysts to produce cyclic carbonates: A comprehensive review

Abstract

We are witnessing a surge in CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere, leading to serious environmental issues for our planet. If we do not take action, it will harm humanity and the biosphere. Increased levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere contribute to global warming, which results in climate upheavals that disrupt ecosystems, alter plant reproduction conditions, and cause numerous related problems. Consequently, the current CO₂ levels in the atmosphere must be significantly lowered as soon as possible. CO₂ is a plentiful C1 feedstock, and its chemical utilization has inspired chemists in recent years. The reaction of CO₂ with epoxide to produce cyclic carbonate (CCs) is highly significant and actively pursued in laboratories worldwide. So, by chemically fixing CO₂ into valuable cyclic carbonates, we can achieve two goals at once: reducing atmospheric CO₂ and producing essential chemicals. However, CO₂'s low reactivity and high stability make fixation challenging, leading to the development of innovative heterogeneous catalytic systems to address this. Magnesium-based materials (Mg-based materials) have become an attractive choice for chemical catalysis of CO₂ fixation reactions owing to their unique properties enabled by the polar structure of Mg(II) leads to their high CO₂ affinity. This research deals with the introduction of Mg-based materials, synthesis methods, and their effect on the performance of the catalytic process in CO₂ fixation reactions. Thus, this review can provide researchers with light horizons in utilizing the high potential of Mg-based materials in synthesizing efficient catalysts to achieve excellent yield, conversion, and selectivity in the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides into CCs.