Programme

O.8 -- Oral, VCTP-50

Date: Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Time: 11:10 - 11:35

Capture, conversion, and utilization of hydrocarbon fuel from carbon dioxide: A case study

Do Ngoc Son (1,2,*), Nguyen Thi Xuan Huynh (3), Dang Long Quan (1,2,4), Huynh Tat Thanh (1,2,5), Le Nguyen Bao Thu (1,2), Pham Ngoc Thanh (5), Pham Thanh Hai (1,2,6), Ong Kim Le (1,2,7,8), Tran Phuong Dung (9,10), Phan Thi Hong Hoa (1,2), Nguyen Luu Thanh Ngan (1,2), Nguyen Thi My Ngoc(1,2), Nguyen Vu Dang Khoa (1,2)

(1) Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2) Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (3) Quy Nhon University, 170 An Duong Vuong, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. (4) Department of Physics, College of Natural Sciences, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam (5) An Giang University, VNU-HCM, 18 Ung Van Khiem street, My Xuyen ward, Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, Vietnam (6) Vietnam Institute for Tropical Technology and Environmental Protection, 57A Truong Quoc Dung Street, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (7) Institute of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Duy Tan University, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Vietnam (8) Faculty of Natural Sciences, Duy Tan University, Da Nang City, 50000, Vietnam (9) Department of Chemistry, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (10) Department of Chemistry, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam *Email: dnson@hcmut.edu.vn

Using fossil fuels and their derivatives releases a significant amount of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Therefore, reducing CO2 emissions from energy consumption is crucial to mitigating the negative impacts associated with this gas. Various approaches have been explored, with a sustainable and long-term solution being the adoption of renewable energy sources such as wind, tidal, solar, and hydrogen. Another strategy that has been implemented is the liquefaction of CO2 for underground storage; however, this method is not economically efficient and also presents safety risks, including potential leaks. A particularly promising approach is the development of a “green energy CO2 cycle.” In this cycle, CO2 from the atmosphere or from exhaust emissions is converted into hydrocarbon fuels through reactions with water or hydrogen using electrochemical processes or sunlight. The hydrocarbon products of this cycle can also be utilized in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The use of hydrocarbon products from the carbon cycle does result in CO2 emissions into the environment; however, overall, it balances out, as the CO2 released is derived from CO2 that was previously absorbed. To implement either burial technology or the conversion of CO2 into fuels, robust support from CO2 capture technologies is essential, particularly those utilizing adsorption phenomena in solid structures. Materials with exceptionally large surface areas and pores, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are particularly promising for CO2 capture due to their advantages as physical adsorbents. MOF-based storage technology offers several benefits over other methods, including rapid storage kinetics and completely reversible storage and desorption processes. As a result, using MOFs for gas capture and storage can lead to cost reductions because of easy desorption and the potential for reusing the MOF material. This report will present a case study from our group, detailing the process of capturing CO2, converting it into fuel, and utilizing that fuel. This study has been conducted by integrating various tools, including modeling, density functional theory calculations, and experimental methods.

Presenter: Do Ngoc Son