Skip to main content
. 2026 Jun 10;3(9):765–779. doi: 10.1021/cbe.6c00021

2. Overview of the Succinic Acid Production from CO2 Derivatives by Different Thermocatalytic Pathways under Typical Conditions.

reactants method catalyst system/amount reaction condition ratio of reactants/GHSV/volume target product conversion indicators references
Gas Phase Pathway for Succinic Acid Production through C4H10
C2H4/CO/H2 dimerization Ni–NiO–SiO2 room temperature and pressure CO/C2H4 = 3.5; CO flow rate 5 sccm C4H10 S = 95%
C4H10 thermal catalysis V–P–O; 4–6 mm tablets 400–450 °C/1 bar 2 mol % of n-butane in air; 1400–2100 h–1 maleic anhydride C = 80–86%
maleic anhydride hydrogenation reaction Pd/Al2O3; 0.1 g, containing 8.5 × 10–3 mmol Pd 353 K/1 MPa maleic anhydride = 7.35 g, 1,4-dioxane = 50 mL; (WHSV = 0.61 h–1) succinic acid C > 98%; S > 99%
maleic anhydride hydrogenation reaction Pd/BN; 0.1 g catalyst 150 °C/2 MPa 2 g of maleic anhydride, 40 mL of 1,4-dioxane; n-tetradecane 0.18 g; 100 mL autoclave succinic acid S = 99.7%
Gas Phase Pathway for Succinic Acid Production through CH2CHCOOH
CO2/C2H4 thermal catalysis Pd-based: (COD)PdCl2/dcpe/Zn; 0.10 mmol (COD)PdCl2, 0.11 mmol dcpe, 10 mmol Zn 145 °C/autoclave 20 h 10 bar C2H4, 20 bar CO2, sodium 2-fluorophenolate 20 mmol; THF 30 mL acrylic acid derivatives TON = 29
CH2CHCOOH thermal catalysis Co-based: 17.1 mg [Co2(CO)8]; 21.1 mg dcpe; both 5 mol % 90 °C/16 bar acrylic acid = 68 μL 1 mol·L–1, CO/H2 = 95:5; toluene 2 mL; mesitylene 14 μL succinic anhydride Y = 96%
Liquid Phase Pathway for Succinic Acid Production through CH3COOH
CH3COOH dehydrogenation coupling Pt/TiO2; 10 mg of photocatalyst UV-light/60 °C 3.5 mL of acetic acid, 1.5 mL of water, CH3COOH/H2O = 7:3 succinic acid S = 25%
Gas–Liquid Phase Pathway for Succinic Acid Production
CO/C2H4/MeOH oxidative carbonylative esterification Pd-based: [Pd (Allyl)Cl]2 0.0125 mmol 4.6 mg, poly-PPh3 3 mg, BQ 2 mmol 216.2 mg 100 °C/10–40 bar 40 bar CO, 10 bar C2H4, alcohols 2 mL, 4 mL vial in 300 mL autoclave succinic acid derivatives TON = 75.2
a

In conversion indicators, S: selectivity; C: conversion rate; Y: yield; TON: The turnover number corresponds to the number of moles of substrate that a mole of catalyst can convert before becoming inactivated.

b

In catalyst system, Ni–NiO–SiO2: nickel–nickel oxide-silica composite; V–P–O: vanadium–phosphorus-oxygen phase system; Pd: palladium; BN: boron nitride; Co: cobalt; Pt: platinum.