Integrated Microfluidic Photo-Flow Process (μ-PFP) for Direct Upconversion of Exhaust Gas to Value-Added Chemicals

Abstract

Exhaust gas emission globally continues to increase, with the burning of billions of tons of fossil carbon each year. Exploration and expansion of the chemistries involving exhaust gas as a chemical resource are severely limited by the mixed composition of the gases, the low reactivity of CO2, and immature recycling technologies. Herein, we present a micro-photo-flow process (μ-PFP) involving an automated platform for direct capture and photochemical conversion of CO2 from the exhaust gas to a valuable mixture of chemicals such as carboxylic acid and phthalides. The current protocol was further extended to the automated serial work-up platform to obtain the highly pure product without laborious extraction and work-up platform.