Advances in carbon capture, conversion, and utilization: A review of sustainable chemical production pathways

Rising carbon emissions have intensified global climate change, creating an urgent need for innovative solutions that generate value while also reducing emissions. Carbon capture, conversion, and utilization (CCCU) is a transformational technique that captures and converts CO₂ from energy and industrial sources into valuable fuels, chemicals, and materials. This review examines the current state of CCCU technologies, highlighting innovative materials including solvents, solid sorbents, and membranes, as well as main CO₂ capture methodologies like pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion. Emerging conversion technologies include photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biochemical pathways, with an emphasis on the synthesis of methanol, dimethyl carbonate (DMC), dimethyl ether (DME), urea, and formic acid. The role of nanomaterials and bio-inspired systems in enhancing conversion efficiency is also explored. Industrial case studies and life-cycle assessments demonstrate the economic and environmental viability of CCCU, particularly when paired with renewable energy sources such as green hydrogen. Despite promising progress, CCCU still faces technical, economic, and infrastructural challenges related to energy consumption, scalability, and policy support. Looking to the future, research should focus on creating hybrid systems that can combine capture and conversion in a single process, developing more advanced catalysts, designing flexible modular reactors, and improving efficiency using machine learning. CCCU can be unlocked to its full potential by integrating it into circular economy frameworks and industrial symbiosis models. CCCU promotes decarbonization by transforming CO₂ waste into a valuable resource. This aligns economic growth with environmental responsibility and fosters sustainable development. This review focuses on the commercial viability of CCCU. The conference emphasized the critical importance of technological innovation and strategic implementation in establishing renewable energy as the foundation for a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.