A promising MEA solvent regeneration approach using MXene@MOF catalyst for energy efficient CO2 capture

Aqueous amine-based systems remain the most viable option for industrial carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) removal from flue gases, but their widespread application is hindered by the high energy demands of solvent regeneration. The MXene@MOF nanocomposite addresses this limitation through catalytic regeneration by introducing a high density of active sites both Lewis acid sites (LASs) and Brønsted acid sites (BASs) on the catalyst surface that work cooperatively to enhance catalytic efficiency. By merging the conductive, surface-rich characteristics of molybdenum based MXene (Mo 2 CTₓ) with the versatile coordination chemistry of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks based MOF (ZIF67), the composite delivers accelerated CO 2 desorption. MXene@MOF accelerates CO 2 desorption by leveraging synergistic LASs and BASs that weaken carbamate bonds and facilitate efficient proton transfer, enabling faster CO 2 release at lower energy input. It achieved a 159% improvement in rate of CO 2 desorption and a 50% rise in desorbed CO 2 amount as compared to a process without catalyst, while also reducing regeneration energy consumption by 30%. The distinctly formed active sites on catalyst surface promote carbamate decomposition and proton transfer, making this hybrid material a promising advancement in CO 2 capture for amine regeneration, and proposing it as a potential candidate among next-generation separation technologies for mitigating both industrial and naturally occurring CO 2 emissions. • MXene@MOF enhances CO 2 desorption via dual acid site catalysis. • Achieved 159% faster CO 2 desorption and 50% higher desorption yield. • Reduced amine regeneration energy by 30% using the hybrid catalyst. • Combines Mo 2 CT x conductivity with ZIF67’s coordination chemistry.