Direct Air Capture Using Pyrolysis and Gasification Chars: Key Findings and Future Research Needs

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is gaining worldwide attention as a negative emissions strategy critical to meeting climate targets. Among emerging DAC materials, pyrolysis chars (PCs) and gasification chars (GCs) derived from biomass present a promising pathway due to their tunable porosity, surface chemistry, and low-cost feedstocks. This review critically examines the current state of research on the physicochemical properties of PCs and GCs relevant to CO2 adsorption, including surface area, pore structure, surface functionality and aromaticity. Comparative analyses show that chemical activation, especially with KOH, can significantly improve CO2 adsorption capacity, with some PCs achieving more than 308 mg/g (100 kPa CO2, 25 °C). Additionally, nitrogen and sulfur doping further improves the affinity for CO2 through increased surface basicity. GCs, although inherently more porous, often require additional modification to achieve a similar adsorption capacity. Importantly, the long-term stability and regeneration potential of these chars remain underexplored, but are essential for practical DAC applications and economic viability. The paper identifies critical research gaps related to material design and techno-economic feasibility. Future directions emphasize the need for integrated multiscale research that bridges material science, process optimization, and real-world DAC deployment. A synthesis of findings and a research outlook are provided to support the advancement of carbon-negative technologies using thermochemically derived biomass chars.