Recent progress and remaining challenges in post-combustion CO₂ capture using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)

The emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases from rapidly growing industries and households are of great concern. These emissions cause problems like global warming and climate change. Although various technologies can be used to decline the alarming levels of greenhouse gases, CO₂ capturing is deemed more cost-effective. The metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are proving to be effective adsorbent material for CO₂ capture due to their microporous structure. MOFs exhibit varying extents of chemical and thermal stabilities; hence, distinct MOFs can be selected for applications based on the working environment. In this article, thermal, chemical, mechanical, and hydrothermal stabilities of MOFs and adsorption mechanisms of CO₂ capture in MOFs were overviewed. Also, the approaches for enhancing the adsorption capacity and efficacy of MOFs were discussed. Moreover, the utilization of MOFs to improve the separation efficacy of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) is also discussed. Furthermore, as the conversion of CO₂ to fuels and other useful products is a viable next step to CO₂ capture, therefore, recent progress in the utilization of MOFs as catalysts for CO₂ conversion was also briefly discussed. Present work attempts to link the chemistry of MOFs to process economics for post-combustion CO₂ capture.