Advancing Adsorption and Membrane Separation Processes for the Gigaton Carbon Capture Challenge

Reducing CO 2 in the atmosphere and preventing its release from point-source emitters, such as coal and natural gas–fired power plants, is a global challenge measured in gigatons. Capturing CO 2 at this scale will require a portfolio of gas-separation technologies to be applied over a range of applications in which the gas mixtures and operating conditions will vary. Chemical scrubbing using absorption is the current state-of-the-art technology. Considerably less attention has been given to other gas-separation technologies, including adsorption and membranes. It will take a range of creative solutions to reduce CO 2 at scale, thereby slowing global warming and minimizing its potential negative environmental impacts. This review focuses on the current challenges of adsorption and membrane-separation processes. Technological advancement of these processes will lead to reduced cost, which will enable subsequent adoption for practical scaled-up application.