EDTA chemical directly orient CO2 hydrogenation towards olefins

• EDTA derived catalysts orient CO 2 hydrogenation to olefins with high selectivity. • Catalysts were prepared by thermal decomposition of EDTA-FeNa in Air, H 2, and N 2. • Fe, Na, and N, well dispersed within a carbon matrix is obtained for each catalyst. • Surface NH– and COO– groups inhibits CO and CH 4 formation with improved CO 2 uptake. • The highly dispersed Na well-promoted Fe in the carbon to ease Fe-C formation. CO 2 hydrogenation to olefins remains a solution to valorize CO 2 emissions. While progress has been unprecedented, a formidable challenge in catalyst development using environmentally friendly methods at a low cost still lingers. Herein, we detail the characteristics of FeNa-EDTA-derived catalysts that enhance olefin selectivity in the CO 2 hydrogenation reaction. The catalysts were facilely prepared by thermally decomposing FeNa-EDTA reagent in N 2 , H 2, and Air without sophisticated procedures. Observing the disposition of the components discloses a high dispersing of ‘Na’ and Fe species within a carbon matrix that attains a unique synergy for the enhanced formation of iron carbides. Analysis on the surfaces identifies carboxylates and nitrogen functional groups that facilitated the adsorption of CO 2 gas while boosting olefin formation. A high olefin selectivity of 63 % in total products was achieved at a conversion of 36.9 % with a low CO selectivity of 10.7 % over FeNaC-N 2 catalyst. The catalysts presented here are not just simple to prepare and reproduce but environmentally benign as well.