Novel Membranes for Carbon Capture and Conversion

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Applications for Gas Separation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 452

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: electrochemistry; CO2RR; ORR; PEMFC; catalysts
Clean Energy Innovation Research Center, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Interests: CO2 capture and storage; functional polymers; polymer composite; green polymer; gas separation membrane
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

An increasing awareness of the impacts of anthropogenic CO2 emissions has driven the development of CO2 utilization technologies. Membranes play a critical role in carbon capture and conversion processes, especially in technologies like CO2 electrolysis, CO2 separation, and CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR). These membranes are responsible for facilitating selective ion transport, enhancing reaction efficiency, and ensuring the separation of different chemical environments during the conversion of CO2 into valuable products. As foundational components in carbon capture and conversion technologies, membranes directly influence both process efficiency and economic feasibility. Progress in membrane materials, design, and fabrication methods is essential for overcoming current challenges and enabling the large-scale deployment of CO2 utilization systems. This is an interesting area of research, with substantial potential to mitigate CO2 emissions and contribute to the development of a sustainable circular carbon economy.

We are excited to invite you to contribute papers that advance our understanding of membrane structure, performance, processes, and applications in the context of carbon capture and conversion. This Special Issue aims to raise awareness about carbon emissions and the potential for converting CO2 into valuable products. It will also provide valuable insights and suggestions for researchers already working in this field or those considering joining it.

We welcome both original research articles and review papers that address advances in materials, mechanisms, and systems related to membranes used in carbon capture and conversion.

We are looking forward to your contribution to our Special Issue.

Dr. Jieyuan Liu
Dr. Naiying Du
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • carbon dioxide
  • multicarbon product
  • electrocatalysis
  • membrane
  • CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR)
  • CO2 capture

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 9897 KiB  
Article
Bi-Objective Optimization of Techno-Economic and Environmental Performance of CO2 Capture Strategy Involving Two-Stage Membrane-Based Separation with Recycling
by Nobuo Hara, Satoshi Taniguchi, Takehiro Yamaki, Thuy T.H. Nguyen and Sho Kataoka
Membranes 2025, 15(7), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15070190 - 24 Jun 2025
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Abstract
To effectively implement complex CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) processes, it is essential to optimize their design by considering various factors. This research bi-objectively optimized a two-stage membrane-based separation process that includes recycling, concentrating on minimizing both costs and CO2 [...] Read more.
To effectively implement complex CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) processes, it is essential to optimize their design by considering various factors. This research bi-objectively optimized a two-stage membrane-based separation process that includes recycling, concentrating on minimizing both costs and CO2 emissions. The implemented algorithm combined experimental design, machine learning, genetic algorithms, and Bayesian optimization. Under the constraints of a recovery rate of 0.9 and a produced CO2 purity of 0.95, six case studies were conducted on two types of membrane performance: the Robeson upper bound and a tenfold increase in permeability. The maximum value of α*(CO2/N2), used as a constraint, was adjusted to three levels: 50, 100, and 200. The analysis of the Pareto solutions and the relationship between each design variable and the final evaluation index indicates that electricity consumption significantly impacts operating costs and CO2 emissions. The results of the case studies quantitatively clarify that improving the α*(CO2/N2) results in a greater enhancement of process performance than increasing the membrane’s performance by increasing its permeability. Our bi-objective optimization analysis allowed us to effectively evaluate the membrane’s CO2 separation and individual CCUS processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Membranes for Carbon Capture and Conversion)
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Review

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24 pages, 1083 KiB  
Review
Membrane-Based CO2 Capture Across Industrial Sectors: Process Conditions, Case Studies, and Implementation Insights
by Jin Woo Park, Soyeon Heo, Jeong-Gu Yeo, Sunghoon Lee, Jin-Kuk Kim and Jung Hyun Lee
Membranes 2025, 15(7), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15070200 - 2 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Membrane-based CO2 capture has emerged as a promising technology for industrial decarbonization, offering advantages in energy efficiency, modularity, and environmental performance. This review presents a comprehensive assessment of membrane processes applied across major emission-intensive sectors, including power generation, cement, steelmaking, and biogas [...] Read more.
Membrane-based CO2 capture has emerged as a promising technology for industrial decarbonization, offering advantages in energy efficiency, modularity, and environmental performance. This review presents a comprehensive assessment of membrane processes applied across major emission-intensive sectors, including power generation, cement, steelmaking, and biogas upgrading. Drawing from pilot-scale demonstrations and simulation-based studies, we evaluate how flue gas characteristics, such as CO2 concentration, pressure, temperature, and impurity composition, govern membrane selection, process design, and operational feasibility. Case studies highlight the technical viability of membrane systems under a wide range of industrial conditions, from low-CO2 NGCC flue gas to high-pressure syngas and CO2-rich cement emissions. Despite these advances, this review discusses the key remaining challenges for the commercialization of membrane-based CO2 capture and includes perspectives on process design and techno-economic evaluation. The insights compiled in this review are intended to support the design of application-specific membrane systems and guide future efforts toward scalable and economically viable CO2 capture across industrial sectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Membranes for Carbon Capture and Conversion)
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