What is it about?
Ruthenium is a special metal that can help speed up chemical reactions in ways that are efficient and environmentally friendly. In this chapter, we explore how ruthenium catalysts are used to create more sustainable carbon cycles by helping recycle carbon dioxide and reduce waste in chemical processes. These catalysts also support green technologies like hydrogen storage, clean energy production, and the use of renewable materials. Overall, ruthenium can play an important role in building a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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Why is it important?
This work highlights the unique role of ruthenium catalysts in creating sustainable, human-driven carbon cycles — a critical goal for combating climate change. Unlike most studies that focus only on isolated reactions, this chapter connects catalyst design directly to real-world energy and carbon management challenges. It is timely because it aligns with urgent efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions, improve hydrogen technologies, and build a circular carbon economy. By showing how ruthenium catalysts enable greener chemical transformations and efficient energy storage, the chapter offers a roadmap for advancing both fundamental science and industrial sustainability.
Perspectives
Writing this chapter was a rewarding experience because it allowed me to connect fundamental catalysis research with the larger challenges of sustainability and climate change. I have long believed that catalysis holds untapped potential for making chemical processes more circular and less harmful to the environment. Through this work, I hope to show that even rare and specialized metals like ruthenium can make a meaningful difference if used wisely. More than anything, I hope this chapter inspires readers to see catalysis not just as a technical tool, but as a key enabler of a more sustainable future.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Ernst Müller
Ruhr-Universitat Bochum
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Catalysis with Ruthenium for Sustainable Carbon Cycles, December 2023, IntechOpen,
DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.112101.
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