Low-Energy Regeneration Technologies for Industrial CO2 Capture: Advances, Challenges, and Engineering Applications

High carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes have intensified the need for large-scale, sustainable, and low-energy-consumption carbon capture technologies. Amine-based chemical absorption is a promising method for large-scale CO2 reduction, but it faces challenges like high regeneration energy consumption, technical limitations, and commercialization difficulties. To reduce energy consumption in regeneration, this paper reviews low-energy regeneration methods, including absorbent optimization, catalytic regeneration, process waste heat recovery, and calcium-based chemical desorption, and explains the energy-saving mechanisms of each approach. Focusing on technical development bottlenecks, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the technical advantages, application limitations, and key challenges associated with various methods. Based on commercialization needs, this paper thoroughly investigates the development process and industrialization status of carbon capture technology in the iron and steel industry. Research has revealed that optimized absorbent designs reduce regeneration heat loads, catalytic acid sites promote proton transfer and lower desorption temperature, utilization of waste heat reduce additional energy consumption, and calcium-based compounds offer both low energy consumption and economic advantages in desorption. This article constructs a theoretical framework for low-energy regeneration technology, identifies innovation priorities, and analyzes scalability challenges and development pathways, providing theoretical support and technical guidance for industrial implementation.