Activated carbons from biomass-based sources for CO₂ capture applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions necessitate advanced capture technologies.
• Solid carbonaceous adsorbents, particularly activated carbons, show promise for CO2 capture due to their stability and capacity.
• Activated carbons from abundant biomass sources offer a sustainable and cost-effective option.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in biomass-derived activated carbons for CO2 capture.
• To analyze the impact of preparation methods on material properties and adsorption performance.
• To explore the role of functionalization in enhancing CO2 capture efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on activated carbon preparation from biomass.
• Analysis of textual properties (surface area, pore size) and their correlation with CO2 adsorption.
• Investigation of functionalization techniques and their influence on adsorption capacity and kinetics.
• Examination of pilot-scale studies and identification of research gaps.

Main Results:

• Biomass-derived activated carbons exhibit tunable textural properties based on preparation methods.
• Nitrogen-based functionalization significantly improves CO2 adsorption capacity and selectivity.
• Adsorption performance is strongly linked to surface area, pore structure, and surface chemistry.
• Pilot-scale tests demonstrate the feasibility of these materials in practical CO2 capture scenarios.

Conclusions:

• Biomass-derived activated carbons are a viable and sustainable material for CO2 capture.
• Optimized preparation and functionalization are key to maximizing adsorption efficiency.
• Further research is needed to bridge the gap between lab-scale findings and industrial implementation.