Since the time of the industrial revolution, the atmospheric CO(2) concentration has risen by nearly 35 % to its current level of 383 ppm. The increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has been suggested to be a leading contributor to global climate change. To slow the increase, reductions in anthropogenic CO(2) emissions are necessary. Large emission point sources, such as fossil-fuel-based power generation facilities, are the first targets for these reductions. A benchmark, mature technology for the separation of dilute CO(2) from gas streams is via absorption with aqueous amines. However, the use of solid adsorbents is now being widely considered as an alternative, potentially less-energy-intensive separation technology. This Review describes the CO(2) adsorption behavior of several different classes of solid carbon dioxide adsorbents, including zeolites, activated carbons, calcium oxides, hydrotalcites, organic-inorganic hybrids, and metal-organic frameworks. These adsorbents are evaluated in terms of their equilibrium CO(2) capacities as well as other important parameters such as adsorption-desorption kinetics, operating windows, stability, and regenerability. The scope of currently available CO(2) adsorbents and their critical properties that will ultimately affect their incorporation into large-scale separation processes is presented.

Adsorbent Materials for Carbon Dioxide Capture from Large Anthropogenic Point Sources

Post-combustion CO2 capture from the flue gas is one of the key technology options to reduce greenhouse gases, because this can be potentially retrofitted to the existing fleet of coal-fired power stations. Adsorption processes using solid sorbents capable of capturing CO2 from flue gas streams have shown many potential advantages, compared to other conventional CO2 capture using aqueous amine solvents. In view of this, in the past few years, several research groups have been involved in the development of new solid sorbents for CO2 capture from flue gas with superior performance and desired economics. A variety of promising sorbents such as activated carbonaceous materials, microporous/mesoporous silica or zeolites, carbonates, and polymeric resins loaded with or without nitrogen functionality for the removal of CO2 from the flue gas streams have been reviewed. Different methods of impregnating functional groups, including grafting techniques and modifying the support materials, have been discussed to en...

Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Using Solid Sorbents: A Review

In the last few years there has been a rapid growth in governmental funding and research activities worldwide for CO2 capture, storage and utilization (CSU), due to increasing awareness of the link between CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere and global warming. Among the various technologies and processes that have been developed and are emerging for CSU of CO2, solid CO2-adsorbents are widely applied. In this review, these solid CO2-adsorbents are classified into three types according to their sorption/desorption temperatures: low-, intermediate- and high-temperature adsorbents with temperatures ranging from below 200 °C, between 200–400 °C and above 400 °C, respectively. For each type of solid CO2-adsorbent, the synthesis, interaction mechanism with CO2 and sorption performance, potential applications and problems are reviewed. In the last section, several representative CO2-sorption-enhanced catalytic reactions are discussed. It is expected that this review will not only summarize the main research activities in this area, but also find possible links between fundamental studies and industrial applications.

CO2 capture by solid adsorbents and their applications: current status and new trends

The increase in the global atmospheric CO2 concentration resulting from over a century of combustion of fossil fuels has been associated with significant global climate change. With the global population increase driving continued increases in fossil fuel use, humanity’s primary reliance on fossil energy for the next several decades is assured. Traditional modes of carbon capture such as precombustion and postcombustion CO2 capture from large point sources can help slow the rate of increase of the atmospheric CO2 concentration, but only the direct removal of CO2 from the air, or “direct air capture” (DAC), can actually reduce the global atmospheric CO2 concentration. The past decade has seen a steep rise in the use of chemical sorbents that are cycled through sorption and desorption cycles for CO2 removal from ultradilute gases such as air. This Review provides a historical overview of the field of DAC, along with an exhaustive description of the use of chemical sorbents targeted at this application. Solv...

Direct Capture of CO2 from Ambient Air

Silica aerogel; synthesis, properties and characterization

The change of CO2 carrying capacity of CaO sorbents prepared from different precursors has been studied using thermogravimetric analysis in a long series of isothermal recarbonation−decomposition cycles in the temperature range of 750−850 °C. The residual capacity of the CaO sorbents after a large number of cycles was found to depend on the precursor type, the experimental temperature, and the duration of the recarbonation stage. The residual capacities of the CaO derived from the powdered calcium carbonates were much higher than that of the CaO produced from the crystalline CaCO3. A simple tentative model has been suggested, according to which recarbonation−decomposition cycles result in formation of the interconnected CaO network that acts as a refractory support and determines sorption properties of the material. By using a new model, a simple synthesis procedure has been suggested that produces CaO sorbents with high residual CO2 carrying capacities.

Change of CO2 Carrying Capacity of CaO in Isothermal Recarbonation−Decomposition Cycles

Direct CO2 capture from ambient air using K2CO3/Al2O3 composite sorbent

In a fixed-bed absorber at 40°C, the dynamics of carbon dioxide sorption over composite sorbents prepared by impregnation of potassium carbonate in various porous matrixes is studied. The dynamic capacity of the synthesized sorbents is shown to reach 0.12 g CO2 per 1 g of the sorbent. The composite dynamic capacity depends on the nature of the host matrix and decreases in the sequence alumina > activated carbon > vermiculite > silica gel. For K2CO3-on-alumina, the sorption capacity decreases considerably after the first cycle of «absorption and regeneration under 200–350°C», whereas the sorbents based on active carbons could be reversibly restored. The findings are discussed within the idea on a chemical interaction between the host matrix and the impregnated salt.

Sorption of carbon dioxide from wet gases by K2CO3-in-porous matrix: Influence of the matrix nature

Thermal conductivity of selective water sorbents under the working conditions of a sorption chiller

To improve the stability of high temperature CO2 absorbent for sorption enhanced reforming applications yttria supported CaO were synthesized using two methods: calcination of mixed salt precursors and wet impregnation of yttria support. According to XRD data, CaO does not interact with the yttria matrix. However, introduction of CaO drastically changes the morphology of primary yttria particles. Increase in CaO concentration results in gradual plugging of the smaller pores and sintering of yttria support. The CO2 absorption uptake in recarbonation-decomposition cycles increases with increase in CaO content and reach 9.6 wt % at CaO content of 19.9 wt %. CaO recarbonation extent varies from 49 to 77%. CaO/Y2O3 absorbents are extremely stable under overheating and maintain their capacity in long series of decomposition-recarbonation cycles even after calcination at 1350 °C. The novel material resists moisture and retains its strength during storage in the air. According to tests, CaO/Y2O3 can be considered...

Aleksey G. Okunev

Papers

Change of CO2 Carrying Capacity of CaO in Isothermal Recarbonation−Decomposition Cycles

Direct CO2 capture from ambient air using K2CO3/Al2O3 composite sorbent

Sorption of carbon dioxide from wet gases by K2CO3-in-porous matrix: Influence of the matrix nature

Thermal conductivity of selective water sorbents under the working conditions of a sorption chiller

High Temperature CaO/Y2O3 Carbon Dioxide Absorbent with Enhanced Stability for Sorption-Enhanced Reforming Applications