section_path: Commercial uses/Precursor to chemicals
section_name: Precursor to chemicals
paragraph_text: Precursor to chemicals
  
  In the chemical industry, carbon dioxide is mainly consumed as an ingredient in the production of urea, with a smaller fraction being used to produce methanol and a range of other products. Some carboxylic acid derivatives such as sodium salicylate are prepared using CO by the Kolbe–Schmitt reaction.
  
  In addition to conventional processes using CO for chemical production, electrochemical methods are also being explored at a research level. In particular, the use of renewable energy for production of fuels from CO (such as methanol) is attractive as this could result in fuels that could be easily transported and used within conventional combustion technologies but have no net CO emissions.