Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103299
Joaquim Constantino , João Castro-Gomes , Maria Inês Alves Vicente
This critical review presents a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the development of bioinspired porous cementitious materials for enhanced CO₂ capture via accelerated carbonation. Addressing the urgent demand for sustainable construction solutions, the study consolidates current literature on pore structure optimisation including pore size, distribution, interconnectivity, and specific surface area and their influence on carbonation kinetics and sequestration efficiency. Inspired by hierarchical biological systems such as corals, mollusc shells, and marine sponges, the review explores the translation of structural and functional principles into cementitious matrices. A comparative analysis of key accelerated carbonation strategies standard curing, pressurised systems, flow-through techniques, and water CO₂ cooperative processes is provided, highlighting their mechanistic bases, process parameters, and industrial scalability. The technological readiness and real-world applicability of CO₂-mineralising concrete are assessed through selected industrial case studies, contextualised within circular economy and carbon neutrality frameworks. Finally, the review identifies critical knowledge gaps and outlines future research directions to advance next-generation low-carbon cementitious materials that integrate mechanical performance, tailored porosity, and environmental functionality.
这篇重要的综述介绍了生物激发多孔胶凝材料的发展的最新进展，通过加速碳化来增强二氧化碳捕获。为了解决对可持续建筑解决方案的迫切需求，该研究整合了目前关于孔隙结构优化的文献，包括孔隙大小、分布、连通性、比表面积及其对碳化动力学和封存效率的影响。受珊瑚、软体动物壳和海洋海绵等分层生物系统的启发，本文探讨了将结构和功能原理转化为胶凝基质的方法。对关键的加速碳化策略进行了比较分析，标准固化、加压系统、流动技术和水- CO - 2协同工艺，强调了它们的机理基础、工艺参数和工业可扩展性。通过选定的工业案例研究，在循环经济和碳中和框架的背景下，评估二氧化碳矿化混凝土的技术准备程度和现实世界的适用性。最后，该综述确定了关键的知识空白，并概述了未来的研究方向，以推进下一代低碳胶凝材料，该材料集机械性能、定制孔隙度和环境功能于一体。
{"title":"Bioinspired porous cementitious materials for CO₂ capture: A critical review of accelerated carbonation strategies","authors":"Joaquim Constantino , João Castro-Gomes , Maria Inês Alves Vicente","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This critical review presents a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the development of bioinspired porous cementitious materials for enhanced CO₂ capture via accelerated carbonation. Addressing the urgent demand for sustainable construction solutions, the study consolidates current literature on pore structure optimisation including pore size, distribution, interconnectivity, and specific surface area and their influence on carbonation kinetics and sequestration efficiency. Inspired by hierarchical biological systems such as corals, mollusc shells, and marine sponges, the review explores the translation of structural and functional principles into cementitious matrices. A comparative analysis of key accelerated carbonation strategies standard curing, pressurised systems, flow-through techniques, and water CO₂ cooperative processes is provided, highlighting their mechanistic bases, process parameters, and industrial scalability. The technological readiness and real-world applicability of CO₂-mineralising concrete are assessed through selected industrial case studies, contextualised within circular economy and carbon neutrality frameworks. Finally, the review identifies critical knowledge gaps and outlines future research directions to advance next-generation low-carbon cementitious materials that integrate mechanical performance, tailored porosity, and environmental functionality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"104 ","pages":"Article 103299"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145898063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103308
Zhilei Dai , Jing Zhang , Yiling Tong , Ning Zhou , Songyao Liu , Zhifeng Dai , Yubing Xiong
The efficient conversion of atmospheric CO2 into high value-added chemicals remains a persistent challenge. In this study, a heterogeneous catalyst PDxBpyOH with both metal-free and halogen-free properties and nucleophilic hydroxyl sites was developed for the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with epoxides. This catalyst was constructed by incorporating a bipyridine complex and a imidazolium salt into an organic polymer matrix, followed by anion exchange. The porosity structure of these catalysts were optimized by tuning the crosslinker DVB ratio (x = 0, 2, 3, 4). A series of characterizations confirmed that it had a hierarchical micro-mesoporous structure, and the specific surface area regulated by DVB improved the physical adsorption capacity of CO2. Under the optimal conditions (80 mg catalyst, 60 °C, 1 atm CO2, 48 h), PD2BpyOH achieved 89 % conversion of epichlorohydrin. Furthermore, it maintained 85 % conversion in 96 h under simulated industrial flue gas (15 % CO2/85 % N2), demonstrating robust recyclability and activity for various epoxides. This catalytic system provides a new metal-free and halogen-free heterogeneous catalytic strategy for the utilization of low-concentration CO2.
{"title":"Toward sustainable catalysis: Anion-engineered metal-/halogen-free catalysts for efficient chemical fixation of low concentration CO2","authors":"Zhilei Dai , Jing Zhang , Yiling Tong , Ning Zhou , Songyao Liu , Zhifeng Dai , Yubing Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The efficient conversion of atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> into high value-added chemicals remains a persistent challenge. In this study, a heterogeneous catalyst PD<sub>x</sub>BpyOH with both metal-free and halogen-free properties and nucleophilic hydroxyl sites was developed for the cycloaddition reaction of CO<sub>2</sub> with epoxides. This catalyst was constructed by incorporating a bipyridine complex and a imidazolium salt into an organic polymer matrix, followed by anion exchange. The porosity structure of these catalysts were optimized by tuning the crosslinker DVB ratio (x = 0, 2, 3, 4). A series of characterizations confirmed that it had a hierarchical micro-mesoporous structure, and the specific surface area regulated by DVB improved the physical adsorption capacity of CO<sub>2</sub>. Under the optimal conditions (80 mg catalyst, 60 °C, 1 atm CO<sub>2</sub>, 48 h), PD<sub>2</sub>BpyOH achieved 89 % conversion of epichlorohydrin. Furthermore, it maintained 85 % conversion in 96 h under simulated industrial flue gas (15 % CO<sub>2</sub>/85 % N<sub>2</sub>), demonstrating robust recyclability and activity for various epoxides. This catalytic system provides a new metal-free and halogen-free heterogeneous catalytic strategy for the utilization of low-concentration CO<sub>2</sub>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103308"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103296
Wenxin Lu , Yuxing Ding , Zhaoxi Dong , Xin Peng , Yue Chai , Dunfeng Xiao , Yurong Liu , Feng Qian , Iqbal M. Mujtaba
Overexploitation of fossil fuels leads to issues of energy security and environmental pollution. Integrating carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) with biomass and waste plastics pyrolysis/gasification offers a promising route for simultaneous hydrogen production and CO₂ mitigation. However, hydrogen yield is often limited in such integrated systems. This study developed an Aspen Plus model to evaluate the effects of carbon-based additives, steam flow rate, and reforming temperature on H₂ production and process economics. Results show that application of CCU to pyrolysis/gasification decreases H2 yield from 5.28 to 4.61 mol/hr, and only a small quantity of carbon additives (0.13 additives-to-feed ratio) can restore the H2 yield to 5.33 mol/hr, which is higher than the original level of 5.28 mol/hr when no CCU is applied. An optimal steam flowrate is required to balance enhanced H₂ generation against the undesired increase in CO₂ formation that may offset the benefit of carbon capture. 600 °C is identified as the optimal temperature with the highest H2 yield. Economic analysis also indicates the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) at different operating conditions. A multi-objective optimisation was also performed to find an optimal operating point at 1.50 g/min carbon addition, 8.75 g/min steam flowrate, and 669.92 °C reforming temperature, corresponding to an H₂ yield of 14.04 mol/h and an LCOH of 3.49 $/kg. The findings provide quantitative guidance for optimising integrated pyrolysis/gasification–CCU systems toward industrial deployment.
{"title":"Techno-economic analysis of carbon-based additives and process optimization for enhanced hydrogen production in integrated pyrolysis/gasification and carbon capture systems","authors":"Wenxin Lu , Yuxing Ding , Zhaoxi Dong , Xin Peng , Yue Chai , Dunfeng Xiao , Yurong Liu , Feng Qian , Iqbal M. Mujtaba","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Overexploitation of fossil fuels leads to issues of energy security and environmental pollution. Integrating carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) with biomass and waste plastics pyrolysis/gasification offers a promising route for simultaneous hydrogen production and CO₂ mitigation. However, hydrogen yield is often limited in such integrated systems. This study developed an Aspen Plus model to evaluate the effects of carbon-based additives, steam flow rate, and reforming temperature on H₂ production and process economics. Results show that application of CCU to pyrolysis/gasification decreases H<sub>2</sub> yield from 5.28 to 4.61 mol/hr, and only a small quantity of carbon additives (0.13 additives-to-feed ratio) can restore the H<sub>2</sub> yield to 5.33 mol/hr, which is higher than the original level of 5.28 mol/hr when no CCU is applied. An optimal steam flowrate is required to balance enhanced H₂ generation against the undesired increase in CO₂ formation that may offset the benefit of carbon capture. 600 °C is identified as the optimal temperature with the highest H<sub>2</sub> yield. Economic analysis also indicates the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) at different operating conditions. A multi-objective optimisation was also performed to find an optimal operating point at 1.50 g/min carbon addition, 8.75 g/min steam flowrate, and 669.92 °C reforming temperature, corresponding to an H₂ yield of 14.04 mol/h and an LCOH of 3.49 $/kg. The findings provide quantitative guidance for optimising integrated pyrolysis/gasification–CCU systems toward industrial deployment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103296"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103305
Jakub Halamek , Martin Kubů , Branislav Koreň , Jiří Čejka , Jan Valenta , Roman Bulánek
Adsorption on zeolites reduces CO2 emissions and cuts the energy costs of processing gas mixtures, such as natural gas, biogas, and landfill gas (CO2/CH4 of various concentrations). Among zeolite frameworks, LTA stands out for its CO2 adsorption and/or separation potential, particularly the Na-LTA zeolite with a Si/Al ratio of ∼5. However, the impact of different cations on the separation efficiency of this system remains unknown. In this study, we tested various alkali-metal-exchanged UZM-9 zeolites (Si/Al = 4.5) for their selective adsorption of CO2 over CH4. K+-exchanged UZM-9 reached the highest CO2 affinity, isosteric heat of adsorption, and selectivity, outperforming more commonly used Na+ forms. This enhanced performance likely stems from the predominant location of K+ in the 8-ring window, which fosters strong CO2 interactions, potentially via bridging CO2 species. Due to partial pore blocking, the total uptake may decrease slightly, but the K-UZM-9 system effectively balances CO2/CH4 selectivity and adsorption capacity. Therefore, K-UZM-9 emerges as a promising adsorbent for energy-efficient gas separation and carbon capture applications.
{"title":"Selective CO2 adsorption over alkali metal cation-exchanged UZM-9 zeolites","authors":"Jakub Halamek , Martin Kubů , Branislav Koreň , Jiří Čejka , Jan Valenta , Roman Bulánek","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adsorption on zeolites reduces CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and cuts the energy costs of processing gas mixtures, such as natural gas, biogas, and landfill gas (CO<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub> of various concentrations). Among zeolite frameworks, LTA stands out for its CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption and/or separation potential, particularly the Na-LTA zeolite with a Si/Al ratio of ∼5. However, the impact of different cations on the separation efficiency of this system remains unknown. In this study, we tested various alkali-metal-exchanged UZM-9 zeolites (Si/Al = 4.5) for their selective adsorption of CO<sub>2</sub> over CH<sub>4</sub>. K<sup>+</sup>-exchanged UZM-9 reached the highest CO<sub>2</sub> affinity, isosteric heat of adsorption, and selectivity, outperforming more commonly used Na<sup>+</sup> forms. This enhanced performance likely stems from the predominant location of K<sup>+</sup> in the 8-ring window, which fosters strong CO<sub>2</sub> interactions, potentially <em>via</em> bridging CO<sub>2</sub> species. Due to partial pore blocking, the total uptake may decrease slightly, but the K-UZM-9 system effectively balances CO<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub> selectivity and adsorption capacity. Therefore, K-UZM-9 emerges as a promising adsorbent for energy-efficient gas separation and carbon capture applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103305"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A novel hybrid Cu(30 %)-ZnO(41 %)/Al2O3/MWCNT catalyst was developed to enhance hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized and incorporated into catalysts with varying carbon contents (0–12 wt%) via co-precipitation. The catalysts were characterized using standard techniques, including XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TPR, and CO2-TPD, to evaluate their structural, morphological, and chemical properties. The results demonstrated that MWCNTs integration significantly improved metal dispersion, prevented particle agglomeration, and enhanced CO2 adsorption. The experiments showed that, among all catalyst formulations and the two industrial reference samples, the catalyst with 8 wt% MWCNTs exhibited the highest methanol yield (13.4 %) and a 25 % increase in space–time yield compared to the MWCNT-free catalyst (11.0 %). Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated excellent long-term stability, preserving its structural integrity and catalytic performance over 60 h of continuous operation. The implementation of this hybrid catalyst as a replacement for the MWCNT-free formulation in the CO2 hydrogenation process resulted in a 6.1 % reduction in total energy demand, which consequently led to a 7.3 % decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (32.5 kg CO2/ton MeOH). These findings confirm that incorporation of MWCNTs constitutes an effective hybrid-support strategy for structural modulation and performance enhancement in CO2 hydrogenation catalysts.
{"title":"Multi-walled carbon nanotube–integrated Cu–ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts: A hybrid support strategy for structural modulation and efficient CO2 hydrogenation to methanol","authors":"Esmaeil GhasemiKafrudi , Navid Mostoufi , Alimorad Rashidi , Reza Zarghami","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel hybrid Cu(30 %)-ZnO(41 %)/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/MWCNT catalyst was developed to enhance hydrogenation of CO<sub>2</sub> to methanol. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized and incorporated into catalysts with varying carbon contents (0–12 wt%) via co-precipitation. The catalysts were characterized using standard techniques, including XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TPR, and CO<sub>2</sub>-TPD, to evaluate their structural, morphological, and chemical properties. The results demonstrated that MWCNTs integration significantly improved metal dispersion, prevented particle agglomeration, and enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption. The experiments showed that, among all catalyst formulations and the two industrial reference samples, the catalyst with 8 wt% MWCNTs exhibited the highest methanol yield (13.4 %) and a 25 % increase in space–time yield compared to the MWCNT-free catalyst (11.0 %). Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated excellent long-term stability, preserving its structural integrity and catalytic performance over 60 h of continuous operation. The implementation of this hybrid catalyst as a replacement for the MWCNT-free formulation in the CO<sub>2</sub> hydrogenation process resulted in a 6.1 % reduction in total energy demand, which consequently led to a 7.3 % decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (32.5 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/ton MeOH). These findings confirm that incorporation of MWCNTs constitutes an effective hybrid-support strategy for structural modulation and performance enhancement in CO<sub>2</sub> hydrogenation catalysts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103306"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103304
Jesse Y. Rumbo-Morales , Felipe D.J. Sorcia-Vázquez , Gerardo Ortiz Torres , Alexis U. Salas Villalobos , Carlos Alberto Torres-Cantero , Manuela Calixto-Rodriguez , Antonio Márquez Rosales , Mayra G. Mena-Enriquez , Mario A. Juarez , Alan Cruz Rojas , Miguel Beltrán-Escobar , Jesús E. Valdez-Resendiz
Biomethane is a renewable energy source obtained by purifying biogas, removing impurities such as H2S and CO2. The removal of H2S is essential due to its toxicity and corrosiveness, protecting equipment and improving process efficiency. Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) is used to separate CO2, which produces a methane-rich gas. This process is efficient, clean, and key to utilizing biogas as a substitute for natural gas. This study aims to perform a sensitivity analysis on the H2S removal stage using a packed column with 13X zeolite, and to conduct a parametric study of the PSA process to identify input variables that significantly affect CO2 adsorption and achieve high-purity biomethane (above 99%). Comparative results showed that a pressure of 10 at a temperature of 298 achieved the lowest H2S removal (1100 ), in a period of 4000 ; however, the highest H2S removal was achieved at 2 and 440 , reaching 1500 removal in 900 . In the case of CO2 retention, the input variables that have the least effect on biomethane purity and that present the least adsorption of CO2 were the feed pressure and purge pressure variables, achieving a biomethane purity between the ranges of 97.53 % and 98.86 % and adsorbing between 0.35 to 0.38 molar fraction using only 0.6 of the total bed length. On the other hand, the input variables that achieved the highest adsorption capacity (0.5 molar fraction) were temperature and composition, achieving to use the longest length of the packed bed (0.8 ) and reaching a biomethane purity of 99.05%, which meets established international criteria to be used as biofuel.
{"title":"Sensitivity analysis of the H2S breakthrough curve in a column packed with type 13X zeolite: Parametric study of pressure swing adsorption process for CO2 separation and biomethane production","authors":"Jesse Y. Rumbo-Morales , Felipe D.J. Sorcia-Vázquez , Gerardo Ortiz Torres , Alexis U. Salas Villalobos , Carlos Alberto Torres-Cantero , Manuela Calixto-Rodriguez , Antonio Márquez Rosales , Mayra G. Mena-Enriquez , Mario A. Juarez , Alan Cruz Rojas , Miguel Beltrán-Escobar , Jesús E. Valdez-Resendiz","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biomethane is a renewable energy source obtained by purifying biogas, removing impurities such as H<sub>2</sub>S and CO<sub>2</sub>. The removal of H<sub>2</sub>S is essential due to its toxicity and corrosiveness, protecting equipment and improving process efficiency. Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) is used to separate CO<sub>2</sub>, which produces a methane-rich gas. This process is efficient, clean, and key to utilizing biogas as a substitute for natural gas. This study aims to perform a sensitivity analysis on the H<sub>2</sub>S removal stage using a packed column with 13X zeolite, and to conduct a parametric study of the PSA process to identify input variables that significantly affect CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption and achieve high-purity biomethane (above 99%). Comparative results showed that a pressure of 10 <span><math><mrow><mi>b</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>r</mi></mrow></math></span> at a temperature of 298 <span><math><mi>K</mi></math></span> achieved the lowest H<sub>2</sub>S removal (1100 <span><math><mrow><mi>p</mi><mi>p</mi><mi>m</mi></mrow></math></span>), in a period of 4000 <span><math><mi>s</mi></math></span>; however, the highest H<sub>2</sub>S removal was achieved at 2 <span><math><mrow><mi>b</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>r</mi></mrow></math></span> and 440 <span><math><mi>K</mi></math></span>, reaching 1500 <span><math><mrow><mi>p</mi><mi>p</mi><mi>m</mi></mrow></math></span> removal in 900 <span><math><mi>s</mi></math></span>. In the case of CO<sub>2</sub> retention, the input variables that have the least effect on biomethane purity and that present the least adsorption of CO<sub>2</sub> were the feed pressure and purge pressure variables, achieving a biomethane purity between the ranges of 97.53 % and 98.86 % and adsorbing between 0.35 to 0.38 molar fraction using only 0.6 <span><math><mi>m</mi></math></span> of the total bed length. On the other hand, the input variables that achieved the highest adsorption capacity (0.5 molar fraction) were temperature and composition, achieving to use the longest length of the packed bed (0.8 <span><math><mi>m</mi></math></span>) and reaching a biomethane purity of 99.05%, which meets established international criteria to be used as biofuel.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103304"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103300
Zhe Wang , Samar Al Jitan , Hassan A. Salih , Cyril Aubry , Thomas Delclos , Inas AlNashef , Khalid Al-Ali , Giovanni Palmisano
Harnessing solar energy to convert liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) into chemical fuels presents a promising solution to address both the greenhouse effect and the fossil fuel crisis. In this study, heterogeneous photocatalysts composed of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocones and semi-hedgehog-like cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal treatment for efficient photocatalytic reduction of liquid CO2. To further enhance performance, two-dimensional Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets (NSs), corresponding to 5 mol% relative to ZnO, were integrated onto the composite photocatalyst surface, enhancing the specific surface area, facilitating interfacial charge transfer, and promoting the separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, 1-Ethyl-3methylimidazolium amino-acetate ionic liquid (IL) was utilized to lower the overpotential and enhance CO2 adsorption and diffusion. This led to a pronounced hydrogenation effect that significantly boosted methane yield in the photocatalytic process. As a result, the ZnO/CuO/Ti3C2 NSs/ILs heterojunction nanocomposite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for dense-phase CO2 reduction compared to pristine ZnO nanoparticles. Using water as a hydrogen source, ZnO/0.5CuO/Ti3C2 NSs exhibit a very high total yield for liquid CO2 reduction (62 bar and 22 °C), reaching 136.9 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ for CO and 30.2 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ for CH₄ under irradiation of a Xe arc lamp. This remarkable production rate marks a significant step forward in the development of efficient CO2 reduction systems and presents a promising strategy for advancing solar-driven carbon conversion technologies.
{"title":"High-yield solar photocatalytic CO₂ conversion in dense-phase CO₂ via ZnO/CuO/Ti₃C₂ nanosheet heterojunctions with ionic liquids","authors":"Zhe Wang , Samar Al Jitan , Hassan A. Salih , Cyril Aubry , Thomas Delclos , Inas AlNashef , Khalid Al-Ali , Giovanni Palmisano","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Harnessing solar energy to convert liquid carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) into chemical fuels presents a promising solution to address both the greenhouse effect and the fossil fuel crisis. In this study, heterogeneous photocatalysts composed of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocones and semi-hedgehog-like cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal treatment for efficient photocatalytic reduction of liquid CO<sub>2</sub>. To further enhance performance, two-dimensional Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene nanosheets (NSs), corresponding to 5 mol% relative to ZnO, were integrated onto the composite photocatalyst surface, enhancing the specific surface area, facilitating interfacial charge transfer, and promoting the separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, 1-Ethyl-3methylimidazolium amino-acetate ionic liquid (IL) was utilized to lower the overpotential and enhance CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption and diffusion. This led to a pronounced hydrogenation effect that significantly boosted methane yield in the photocatalytic process. As a result, the ZnO/CuO/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> NSs/ILs heterojunction nanocomposite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for dense-phase CO<sub>2</sub> reduction compared to pristine ZnO nanoparticles. Using water as a hydrogen source, ZnO/0.5CuO/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> NSs exhibit a very high total yield for liquid CO<sub>2</sub> reduction (62 bar and 22 °C), reaching 136.9 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ for CO and 30.2 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ for CH₄ under irradiation of a Xe arc lamp. This remarkable production rate marks a significant step forward in the development of efficient CO<sub>2</sub> reduction systems and presents a promising strategy for advancing solar-driven carbon conversion technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103300"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The development of efficient catalysts for CO₂ utilization is a key challenge for industrial sustainability. This study explores the photothermo-catalytic methanation of CO₂ using Ni-Zn-Al Layered Double Hydroxide-derived (LDHd) catalysts modified with phyllosilicates (Montmorillonite K30 and Halloysite). LDH precursors were synthesized by co-precipitation and hydrothermal treatment, then calcined and reduced leading to the formation of mixed oxides and metallic Ni and Zn nanoparticles. Catalytic performances were evaluated at 1 atm and 350 °C. The Ni-Zn-Al LDHd catalyst achieved high CO₂ conversion (86 %) and CH₄ selectivity (>99 %) under photothermo-catalytic conditions, outperforming commercial Ni systems. Incorporation of halloysite, thermally treated at 200 °C, further increased CO₂ conversion to 92 % with the same high CH₄ selectivity. This improved performance is attributed to enhanced surface area, optical absorption and moderate–strong basic sites from LDHd–Halloysite interaction. In contrast, Montmorillonite modification, despite cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) intercalation, resulted in lower activity and selectivity, due to weaker basicity and ineffective LDHd interaction. The Ni-Zn-Al LDHd/halloysite catalyst exhibited excellent stability during 20 h of continuous photothermo-catalytic test at 350 °C. These results demonstrate the potential of phyllosilicate-modified LDH-derived catalysts, with low metals content, for efficient CO₂ methanation under solar irradiation.
{"title":"Solar photothermo-catalytic CO2 conversion into methane: Effect of phyllosilicates on the performance of Ni-Zn-Al layered double hydroxide-derived catalysts","authors":"Luca Calantropo , Eleonora La Greca , Leonarda Francesca Liotta , Giuliana Impellizzeri , Antonino Gulino , Angelo Ferlazzo , Libera Vitiello , Sabrina Carola Carroccio , Salvatore Scirè , Roberto Fiorenza","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of efficient catalysts for CO₂ utilization is a key challenge for industrial sustainability. This study explores the photothermo-catalytic methanation of CO₂ using Ni-Zn-Al Layered Double Hydroxide-derived (LDHd) catalysts modified with phyllosilicates (Montmorillonite K30 and Halloysite). LDH precursors were synthesized by co-precipitation and hydrothermal treatment, then calcined and reduced leading to the formation of mixed oxides and metallic Ni and Zn nanoparticles. Catalytic performances were evaluated at 1 atm and 350 °C. The Ni-Zn-Al LDHd catalyst achieved high CO₂ conversion (86 %) and CH₄ selectivity (>99 %) under photothermo-catalytic conditions, outperforming commercial Ni systems. Incorporation of halloysite, thermally treated at 200 °C, further increased CO₂ conversion to 92 % with the same high CH₄ selectivity. This improved performance is attributed to enhanced surface area, optical absorption and moderate–strong basic sites from LDHd–Halloysite interaction. In contrast, Montmorillonite modification, despite cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) intercalation, resulted in lower activity and selectivity, due to weaker basicity and ineffective LDHd interaction. The Ni-Zn-Al LDHd/halloysite catalyst exhibited excellent stability during 20 h of continuous photothermo-catalytic test at 350 °C. These results demonstrate the potential of phyllosilicate-modified LDH-derived catalysts, with low metals content, for efficient CO₂ methanation under solar irradiation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103302"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The solution absorption method is one of the commonly used approaches in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage. The performance and operating parameters of the absorption tower significantly affect CO2 capture efficiency. This study investigated the impact of various input parameters and tower structure on carbon capture efficiency. Findings reveal that among variations in inlet temperatures for both gas and liquid phases, adjusting the absorbent liquid temperature markedly influences capture efficiency, while changes in flue gas inlet temperature have minimal impact. Observing gas-liquid velocity variations shows that reducing both velocities generally increases CO2 capture efficiency; however, for MEA solutions, further reduction below 0.5 m/s leads to decreased efficiency. Additionally, a 10 % CO2 concentration is more easily captured than higher concentrations. Research on packing layer structural characteristics indicates that porosity changes produce opposing effects, with an optimal porosity level of 36 %. Increasing tower height also enhances absorption capacity, with calculations identifying 7 m as the optimal height.
{"title":"Numerical simulation and optimization of a CO2 absorption tower using solution absorption method for capture","authors":"Fengqiang Miao , Xinyu Wang , Hao Wan , Xiangming Zhao , Linyang Zhang , Feng Xu , Dongdong Ren , Jianxiang Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103303","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103303","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The solution absorption method is one of the commonly used approaches in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage. The performance and operating parameters of the absorption tower significantly affect CO<sub>2</sub> capture efficiency. This study investigated the impact of various input parameters and tower structure on carbon capture efficiency. Findings reveal that among variations in inlet temperatures for both gas and liquid phases, adjusting the absorbent liquid temperature markedly influences capture efficiency, while changes in flue gas inlet temperature have minimal impact. Observing gas-liquid velocity variations shows that reducing both velocities generally increases CO<sub>2</sub> capture efficiency; however, for MEA solutions, further reduction below 0.5 m/s leads to decreased efficiency. Additionally, a 10 % CO<sub>2</sub> concentration is more easily captured than higher concentrations. Research on packing layer structural characteristics indicates that porosity changes produce opposing effects, with an optimal porosity level of 36 %. Increasing tower height also enhances absorption capacity, with calculations identifying 7 m as the optimal height.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103303"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103301
Yassine Bouazzi , Zakarya Ahmed , Saman Ahmad Aminian , Veyan A. Musa , Mohamed Shaban , Narinderjit Singh Sawaran Singh , Wajdi Rajhi , Borhen Louhichi
The use of carbon dioxide as a high-performance working-fluid in advanced thermodynamic cycles provides a compelling route for developing low-carbon, multi-output renewable-energy systems. The study develops and assesses an advanced hybrid solar–geothermal polygeneration facility designed to produce electricity, hydrogen, and freshwater under the real resource conditions of the Harrat Rahat geothermal zone in Saudi Arabia. The configuration combines a double-flash geothermal cycle with a Transcritical CO2 Rankine cycle, a Kalina cycle, an alkaline electrolyser, and a reverse-osmosis desalination unit, supported by parabolic trough solar thermal augmentation. A full 3E+S evaluation—covering energy, exergy, economic, and sustainability metrics—is carried out alongside multi-objective optimization using the Secretary Bird metaheuristic algorithm. Under the real resource inputs of the Harrat Rahat site—geothermal reservoir temperatures exceeding 220 °C and mean solar irradiance of ∼6.6 kWh m−2 day−1, the results show the system could deliver 3.65 MW of net electricity, 9.35 kg.h−1 of hydrogen, and 10.23 m3.h−1 of freshwater, with overall energy and exergy efficiencies of 42.7 % and 38.18 %. Optimization enhances exergy efficiency by about 1.54 % and lowers the levelized cost of energy by roughly 2.2 %, yielding an LCOE of 0.04039 USD/MJ and a sustainability index of 0.238. Exergy-destruction profiling shows that condensers (≈47 %) and the solar thermal subsystem (≈16 %) are the main contributors to irreversibility. Overall, the results indicate that integrating high-enthalpy geothermal resources with concentrated solar power and advanced thermodynamic cycles can deliver a robust, efficient, and economically competitive polygeneration pathway suited to arid regions with strong energy and water needs.
{"title":"Advanced solar–geothermal polygeneration system for CO2-based power, hydrogen, and freshwater recovery via transcritical CO2 rankine cycle","authors":"Yassine Bouazzi , Zakarya Ahmed , Saman Ahmad Aminian , Veyan A. Musa , Mohamed Shaban , Narinderjit Singh Sawaran Singh , Wajdi Rajhi , Borhen Louhichi","doi":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103301","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103301","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of carbon dioxide as a high-performance working-fluid in advanced thermodynamic cycles provides a compelling route for developing low-carbon, multi-output renewable-energy systems. The study develops and assesses an advanced hybrid solar–geothermal polygeneration facility designed to produce electricity, hydrogen, and freshwater under the real resource conditions of the Harrat Rahat geothermal zone in Saudi Arabia. The configuration combines a double-flash geothermal cycle with a Transcritical CO<sub>2</sub> Rankine cycle, a Kalina cycle, an alkaline electrolyser, and a reverse-osmosis desalination unit, supported by parabolic trough solar thermal augmentation. A full 3E+S evaluation—covering energy, exergy, economic, and sustainability metrics—is carried out alongside multi-objective optimization using the Secretary Bird metaheuristic algorithm. Under the real resource inputs of the Harrat Rahat site—geothermal reservoir temperatures exceeding 220 <sup>°</sup>C and mean solar irradiance of ∼6.6 kWh m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>, the results show the system could deliver 3.65 MW of net electricity, 9.35 kg.h<sup>−1</sup> of hydrogen, and 10.23 m<sup>3</sup>.h<sup>−1</sup> of freshwater, with overall energy and exergy efficiencies of 42.7 % and 38.18 %. Optimization enhances exergy efficiency by about 1.54 % and lowers the levelized cost of energy by roughly 2.2 %, yielding an LCOE of 0.04039 USD/MJ and a sustainability index of 0.238. Exergy-destruction profiling shows that condensers (≈47 %) and the solar thermal subsystem (≈16 %) are the main contributors to irreversibility. Overall, the results indicate that integrating high-enthalpy geothermal resources with concentrated solar power and advanced thermodynamic cycles can deliver a robust, efficient, and economically competitive polygeneration pathway suited to arid regions with strong energy and water needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":350,"journal":{"name":"Journal of CO2 Utilization","volume":"103 ","pages":"Article 103301"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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