Calcium‐Based Sustainable Chemical Technologies for Total Carbon Recycling

Calcium carbide, a stable solid compound composed of two atoms of carbon and one of calcium, has proven its effectiveness in chemical synthesis, due to the safety and convenience of handling the C≡C acetylenic units. The areas of CaC2 application are very diverse, and the development of calcium‐mediated approaches resolves several important challenges. This Review aims to discuss the laboratory chemistry of calcium carbide, and to go beyond its frontiers to organic synthesis, life sciences, materials and construction, carbon dioxide capturing, alloy manufacturing, and agriculture. The recyclability of calcium carbide and the availability of large‐scale industrial production facilities, as well as the future possibility of fossil‐resource‐independent manufacturing, position this compound as a key chemical platform for sustainable development. Easy regeneration and reuse of the carbide highlight calcium‐based sustainable chemical technologies as promising instruments for total carbon recycling. Freedom from waste: A calcium‐based cycle provides an excellent way to sustainably convert various sources of carbon into acetylene; a valuable product for industry and research. The proposed cycle may utilize carbon wastes, biomass refinery wastes, and organic compounds. Recyclability, large‐scale production, and future possibilities for fossil‐resource‐independent manufacturing lead to calcium carbide being considered as a key chemical platform.