Advancements and Challenges in Adsorption-Based Carbon Capture Technology: From Fundamentals to Deployment

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Adsorption on solid sorbents is a key technology for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and mitigating anthropogenic emissions.
• Widespread adoption of CO2 capture technologies is vital for a sustainable, low-carbon future.
• Advancements in sorbent development require a comprehensive strategy for full potential realization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the deployment pathway for adsorption-based carbon capture technology.
• To cover fundamental material science, molecular-level thermo-physical properties, and industrial pilot-scale demonstrations.
• To explore strategies for enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness through process simulation and economic evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Review of material science aspects of solid sorbents for CO2 adsorption.
• Analysis of thermo-physical properties at the molecular level.
• Examination of industrial pilot-scale demonstration data.
• Integration of process simulation and economic evaluations.
• Discussion of hybrid systems, renewable energy integration, and machine learning techniques.

Main Results:

• Identified key engineering aspects for deploying adsorption-based CO2 capture.
• Highlighted the importance of material science and molecular behavior in sorbent performance.
• Demonstrated the utility of process simulation and economic evaluations for optimizing capture processes.
• Acknowledged significant technical, economic, and environmental challenges in current deployment.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive strategy integrating material science, engineering, and economic evaluations is crucial for effective CO2 capture deployment.
• Hybrid systems, renewable energy, and machine learning offer promising avenues to overcome deployment hurdles.
• Adoption of advanced carbon capture technologies is essential for addressing global warming and achieving a low-carbon future.