New solvent formulas could slash energy costs for industrial carbon capture
Researchers have identified chemical co-solvent combinations that significantly reduce the energy needed to regenerate carbon-capture solvents, a major cost barrier to scaling the technology. The findings could make post-combustion CO₂ capture—already the most commercially viable method—cheaper to operate at industrial plants and power facilities.
Originaltitel: Advances in amine-based absorption solvent engineering: Co-solvent strategies toward low-energy post-combustion CO₂ capture
<p>The continuous rise in anthropogenic CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion underscores the urgency of developing efficient carbon capture technologies. Among various methods, post-combustion CO₂ capture using amine-based solvents remains the most mature and industrially viable. However, conventional aqueous-amine systems suffer from high regeneration energy demands, solvent degradation, and operational challenges. This study systematically reviews recent advances in amine-based solvents and co-solvent formulations designed to enhance absorption efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The discussion covers (i) thermodynamic and kinetic fundamentals of amine–CO₂ interactions, (ii) the effects of co-solvent addition on viscosity, mass transfer, and thermal stability, and (iii) the influence of operating parameters on cyclic capacity and regeneration energy. Emerging classes such as water-lean, biphasic, and nanoparticle-enhanced systems are critically compared based on their absorption kinetics, desorption enthalpy, and stability under cyclic operation. Bibliometric analysis is used to map the evolution of research trends in solvent engineering. The review highlights that co-solvents such as glycols, sulfoxides, and glycol ethers can lower reboiler duty by up to 60% relative to aqueous monoethanolamine while maintaining comparable absorption performance. Remaining challenges include viscosity control, long-term solvent degradation, and scalability. Future research should focus on optimizing solvent composition, integrating process intensification techniques, and developing predictive models linking molecular structure to process performance.</p>