Development of zeolite adsorbents for CO2 separation in achieving carbon neutrality

The escalating atmospheric CO₂ concentration has become a global concern due to its substantial influence on climate change, emphasizing the necessity of carbon capture to achieve carbon neutrality. Adsorption-based CO₂ separation is a promising approach for carbon capture, highlighting the importance of developing solid porous materials as effective adsorbents. Among these porous materials, zeolites stand out as promising adsorbents due to their extensively tunable adsorption/separation properties, superior structural stability, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms, strategies, and prospects for zeolite development in separating CO₂ from critical scenarios, encompassing flue gas (CO₂/N₂), natural/bio/landfill gases (CO₂/CH₄₎, and air, respectively. This review outlines general mechanisms for CO₂ separation using zeolites, discusses specific strategies for zeolite development, and concludes with a summary of current findings and an outlook for future research. © The Author(s) 2024