Reduction of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Catalytic Processes.

Catalysis and related technologies and processes are essential in reducing greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and mitigating the related climate change effects. After a short introduction to catalysis and the general aspects of catalytic technologies for GHG abatement, the state of the art in reducing anthropogenic emissions of non-CO2 GHGs (N2O, CH4, fluorocarbons) is discussed. Although developments in this area regarding catalysts and catalytic technologies are still ongoing, this area fits within the general category of established and mature technologies. Catalytic technologies operate mainly as downstream cleaning technologies in stationary or mobile source emissions by converting the non-CO2 GHGs to not- or less-harmful chemicals: (i) N2 in the case of N2O; (ii) CO2 for methane, thus significantly reducing, but not eliminating, GHG impact; and (iii) chemicals without the strong C--F bonds present in fluorocarbons. For N2O, its reuse is also possible when large concentrations are present.