Monolithic Adsorbent-Based Rapid-Cycle Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption Process for Carbon Capture from Small-Scale Steam Methane Reforming

Performance-Based Screening of Porous Materials for Carbon Capture

Computational screening methods have changed the way new materials and processes are discovered and designed. For adsorption-based gas separations and carbon capture, recent efforts have been directed toward the development of multiscale and performance-based screening workflows where we can go from the atomistic structure of an adsorbent to its equilibrium and transport properties at different scales, and eventually to its separation performance at the process level. The objective of this work is to review the current status of this new approach, discuss its potential and impact on the field of materials screening, and highlight the challenges that limit its application. We compile and introduce all the elements required for the development, implementation, and operation of multiscale workflows, hence providing a useful practical guide and a comprehensive source of reference to the scientific communities who work in this area. Our review includes information about available materials databases, state-of-the-art molecular simulation and process modeling tools, and a complete catalogue of data and parameters that are required at each stage of the multiscale screening. We thoroughly discuss the challenges associated with data availability, consistency of the models, and reproducibility of the data and, finally, propose new directions for the future of the field.

Advances in Post-Combustion CO2 Capture by Physical Adsorption: From Materials Innovation to Separation Practice

The atmospheric CO₂ concentration continues a rapid increase to its current record high value of 416 ppm for the time being. It calls for advanced CO₂ capture technologies. One of the attractive technologies is physical adsorption-based separation, which shows easy regeneration and high cycle stability, and thus reduced energy penalties and cost. The extensive research on this topic is evidenced by the growing body of scientific and technical literature. The progress spans from the innovation of novel porous adsorbents to practical separation practices. Major CO₂ capture materials include the most widely used industrially relevant porous carbons, zeolites, activated alumina, mesoporous silica, and the newly emerging metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent-organic framework (COFs). The key intrinsic properties such as pore structure, surface chemistry, preferable adsorption sites, and other structural features that would affect CO₂ capture capacity, selectivity, and recyclability are first discussed. The industrial relevant variables such as particle size of adsorbents, the mechanical strength, adsorption heat management, and other technological advances are equally important, even more crucial when scaling up from bench and pilot-scale to demonstration and commercial scale. Therefore, we aim to bring a full picture of the adsorption-based CO₂ separation technologies, from adsorbent design, intrinsic property evaluation to performance assessment not only under ideal equilibrium conditions but also in realistic pressure swing adsorption processes.