This review summarizes how the carbon cycle occurs and how to reduce CO₂ emissions in highly efficient carbon utilization from the most abundant carbon source, coal. Nowadays, more and more attention has been paid to CO₂ emissions and its myriad of sources. Much research has been undertaken on fossil energy and renewable energy and current existing problems, challenges and opportunities in controlling and reducing CO₂ emission with technologies of CO₂ capture, utilization, and storage. The coal chemical industry is a crucial area in the (CO₂value chain) Carbon Cycle. The realization of clean and effective conversion of coal resources, improving the utilization and efficiency of resources, whilst reducing CO₂ emissions is a key area for further development and investigation by the coal chemical industry. Under a weak carbon mitigation policy, the value and price of products from coal conversion are suggested in the carbon cycle.

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/C4CS00453A