CO₂ capture by adsorption: Research progress and technology demonstration

Adsorption is one of the main technologies proposed for CO₂ capture from industrial emitters. Although adsorption has been demonstrated at scale for other gas separations, its application to CO₂ capture remains an active area of research and field demonstration, owing to the complexity of feed streams (e.g., CO₂ content, impurities) and the need to balance several process key performance indicators (e.g., purity and recovery of CO₂ product). In this work, we take stock of the field’s progress, considering both research findings and demonstrations projects reported to date. We critically review the most relevant adsorption processes for different feed streams, depending on their composition, and highlight both established and emerging approaches for process modelling, design and optimisation. Importantly, we compile for the first time a traceable list of pilot- and full-scale CO₂ capture demonstration projects worldwide. We analyse the key technical challenges facing the field and identify priority areas for future research. Our report underscores the substantial body of knowledge accumulated on adsorption-based CO₂ capture processes over the years, their technical viability, and potential pathways toward commercial deployment.