Post-combustion carbon dioxide capture: Evolution towards utilization of nanomaterials

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is not the gas that gives the most severe global warming impact among the greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, its highest annual emission into the atmosphere makes it the most imperative anthropogenic GHG. This elevated emission is primarily coming from fossil fuel power plants. Hence, post-combustion CO2 removal from power plants becomes crucial in global warming mitigation as it can be retrofitted directly into an existing plant. CO2 removal technology nowadays is utilizing solvent-based sorbents, such as amine solutions and ionic liquids. Many extensive research works have been carrying out to improve the constraints of existing technology. In this paper, a general review on existing CO2 removal technologies, existing research works on CO2 removal sorbents was done. In conjunction with that, we will look into the potential and development of nanomaterials as CO2 removal sorbents in the future. Nanomaterials have shown their potentials in CO2 capture with its high surface area and adjustable properties and characteristics. Many limitations in existing technology were found improvable by nanomaterials.