CO2 capture: a concise, comprehensive overview of recent research trends

Due to the growing threat of climate change, the pressing need for carbon dioxide capture has become a global priority in the development of innovative technologies. Multipronged approaches and multifarious research efforts are underway to efficiently capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from emission sources, ambient air, and indoor air. Currently, absorption is the dominant industrial-scale process, using different solvents and their blends to lower the energy intensity of solvent desorption and regeneration. However, adsorption is emerging as a promising alternative due to its energy efficiency, eco-friendliness, and potential for large-scale applications. High-performance sorbents with large surface areas and bio-based materials exhibit high CO2 loading and selectivity in fixed-bed and fluidized-bed systems. Cryogenic CO2 capture systems, which do not require solvents or membranes, are optimized for energy through process integration. Researchers are investigating different membrane materials in hollow fiber membrane contactors for enhanced CO2 capture efficiency. Membranes that can selectively filter CO2 from gas mixtures are also being explored. Furthermore, hybrid technologies integrating different CO2 capture approaches are being developed to reduce costs and boost overall performance to curb rising atmospheric CO2 levels.