Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage: Solvents, Sorbents, Membranes, and Process Intensification
Keywords:
Carbon capture, Carbon utilization, Carbon storage, Solvents, Sorbents, Membranes, Process intensification, CO₂ mitigationAbstract
This review aims to synthesize recent advances in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, focusing on solvents, sorbents, membranes, and process intensification strategies to identify trends, challenges, and future directions. A qualitative literature review was conducted on 15 high-impact peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2025. The studies were selected based on relevance to solvent-based, sorbent-based, and membrane-based CO₂ capture, as well as process intensification approaches and utilization or storage pathways. Data were collected exclusively from the literature and analyzed using thematic qualitative methods in NVivo 14. Open, axial, and selective coding were applied until theoretical saturation was achieved, extracting main themes, subthemes, and concepts related to materials performance, process design, and carbon utilization and storage. Three main themes emerged. First, advanced carbon capture materials—including novel solvents, solid sorbents, membranes, and hybrid systems—demonstrate improved CO₂ selectivity, stability, and regeneration performance, though energy consumption and durability remain critical limitations. Second, process design and intensification strategies, such as rotating packed beds, microchannel reactors, and integrated absorption-membrane modules, enhance mass and heat transfer, reduce equipment size, and improve energy efficiency, particularly when coupled with robust modeling and simulation frameworks. Third, carbon utilization and storage pathways, encompassing mineralization, chemical conversion, and geological sequestration, highlight the potential to close the carbon loop while minimizing lifecycle emissions. Policy, regulatory frameworks, and social acceptance influence deployment but remain underrepresented in technical studies. The integration of advanced materials with process intensification and utilization/storage strategies is essential for scalable, efficient, and economically viable CCUS systems. Future research should focus on pilot-scale validation, multi-objective optimization, and lifecycle assessment to bridge laboratory innovations with industrial application. Comprehensive system-level approaches combining technical, economic, and societal considerations will be crucial to accelerate the deployment of CCUS technologies in achieving global net-zero targets.
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