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CO2 Capture and Utilization: Sustainable Environment
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CO2 Capture and Utilization: Sustainable Environment

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 June 2026 | Viewed by 5025

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yisong Wang

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Eco-Industry, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110167, China
Interests: CO2 capture and utilization; photocatalytic low-carbon technology; carbon resource recycling; solid waste reduction and utilization; industrial ecology; systems energy conservation and emission reduction in industry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The challenge of achieving a sustainable environment is intricately linked to the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere. As a major greenhouse gas, CO2 significantly contributes to global warming and climate change. Addressing this issue requires innovative approaches in CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) to not only reduce emissions but to also repurpose CO2 as a valuable resource. The primary purpose of this Special Issue is to bridge the gap between emerging CCU technologies and their potential applications in sustainable development. By facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration and comprehensive research, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the deployment of CCU technologies as part of a broader strategy to mitigate climate change and enhance resource efficiency. This Special Issue contributes to sustainability by addressing the dual challenge of reducing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere and transforming CO2 into valuable products. It aligns with the goals of sustainable development by promoting technologies that are environmentally benign, economically viable, and socially acceptable. Moreover, this Special Issue seeks to assess and quantify the sustainability impact of CCU technologies through life-cycle analysis, helping to identify pathways that offer the most promise for sustainable growth.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses all aspects of CO2 capture and utilization, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced materials for CO2 capture and separation technologies;
  • Innovative chemical and biological pathways for CO2 conversion into fuels, chemicals, and materials;
  • Life-cycle assessment of CCU technologies;
  • Economic and policy analysis for implementing CCU technologies on a large scale;
  • Integration of CCU technologies with renewable energy systems;
  • Pilot and industrial-scale demonstrations of CCU processes;
  • Socio-economic impacts and the public perception of CO2.

We eagerly anticipate receiving groundbreaking contributions from the research community that address the challenges of CO2 capture and utilization, driving advancements toward a sustainable and carbon-neutral future.

Dr. Yisong Wang
Guest Editor

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • CO2 capture
  • sustainable development
  • greenhouse gas reduction
  • advanced environmental management materials
  • renewable energy integration
  • life-cycle assessment
  • resource efficiency and economic viability

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3527 KiB  
Article
One-Step Synthesis of In Situ Sulfur-Doped Porous Carbons for Efficient CO2 Adsorption
by Jiang Guo, Yun-Peng Ma, Wen-Jun Wu, Xue-Fang Cao and Yu-Ping Fu
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4952; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114952 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 554
Abstract
Porous carbons for CO2 capture were synthesized from a sulfur-rich bituminous coal via a one-step method concurrently including carbonization and KOH activation. The activation parameters were controlled by varying KOH/coal mass ratios (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1) and temperatures (700 °C, 800 °C, [...] Read more.
Porous carbons for CO2 capture were synthesized from a sulfur-rich bituminous coal via a one-step method concurrently including carbonization and KOH activation. The activation parameters were controlled by varying KOH/coal mass ratios (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1) and temperatures (700 °C, 800 °C, and 900 °C) to optimize their CO2 capture performance. The surface physicochemical structural properties of these porous carbons were characterized by applying a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the SBET of sample SCC-800-3 is as high as 2209 m2/g, the CO2 adsorption capacity of sample SCC-700-2 at normal temperature and pressure reaches 3.46 mmol/g, and the CO2/N2 selectivity of sample SCC-700-1 reaches 24. The synergistic effect of moderate activation conditions ensures optimal pore evolution without compromising sulfur species retention. Furthermore, these porous carbons also demonstrate excellent cycling stability and thermal stability. The fitting of the adsorption isotherm model for all samples were further conducted. Adsorption isotherm modeling demonstrated superior fitting accuracy with the dual-parameter Freundlich and tri-parametric Redlich–Peterson formulations across all samples, indicating that the CO2 capture by high-sulfur coal-based porous carbons belongs to multilayer adsorption and the carbon surface is heterogeneous. The CO2 adsorption on porous carbon exhibits spontaneous, exothermic behavior according to the thermodynamic data. These findings confirm the great potential of high-sulfur coal-based porous carbons on the capture of CO2. The presenting research provides a strategy that leverages the synergistic effect of in situ sulfur doping and milder activation conditions, achieving the high-efficiency utilization of high-sulfur coal resources and developing low-cost CO2 capture materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Capture and Utilization: Sustainable Environment)
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28 pages, 774 KiB  
Article
Drivers of Environmental Sustainability, Economic Growth, and Inequality: A Study of Economic Complexity, FDI, and Human Development Role in BRICS+ Nations
by Parveen Kumar, Rajbeer Kaur, Magdalena Radulescu, Branimir Kalaš and Alina Hagiu
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4180; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094180 - 6 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1034
Abstract
This study investigates the intricate relationships among CO2 emissions, income inequality, the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), foreign direct investment (FDI), the Human Development Index (HDI), and the economic growth across countries. Three distinct models are developed: the first examines their effects on [...] Read more.
This study investigates the intricate relationships among CO2 emissions, income inequality, the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), foreign direct investment (FDI), the Human Development Index (HDI), and the economic growth across countries. Three distinct models are developed: the first examines their effects on economic growth, the second analyzes their impact on income inequality, and the third explores their influence on CO2 emissions. Advanced econometric methods, including Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), are employed to ensure robust and reliable results. The findings indicate that income inequality impedes economic growth, whereas economic growth and greater economic complexity help reduce inequality. While FDI significantly boosts GDP growth, it also widens the income disparities and intensifies environmental degradation, raising questions about the sustainability and quality of foreign investments. In contrast, human development emerges as a vital driver of economic growth and a critical factor in reducing CO2 emissions, highlighting the value of investing in education, healthcare, and living standards to achieve sustainable development. These insights underscore the necessity for carefully designed policies that harmonize economic progress, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Capture and Utilization: Sustainable Environment)
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26 pages, 4080 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Spatial Spillover Effects of Net Carbon Emissions: A Case Study of Shaanxi Province, China
by Yi-Jie Sun, Zi-Yu Guo, Chang-Zheng Zhu, Yang Shao and Fei-Peng Yang
Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031205 - 2 Feb 2025
Viewed by 992
Abstract
Scientifically evaluating net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is the pivotal strategy for mitigating global climate change and fostering sustainable urban development. Shaanxi Province is situated in central China, and boasts robust energy resources in the north and a significant carbon-sink zone [...] Read more.
Scientifically evaluating net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is the pivotal strategy for mitigating global climate change and fostering sustainable urban development. Shaanxi Province is situated in central China, and boasts robust energy resources in the north and a significant carbon-sink zone in the southern Qinling Mountains. Therefore, uncovering the spatial distributions of net CO2 emissions and identifying its influencing factors across cities in Shaanxi Province would furnish a crucial theoretical foundation for advancing low-carbon development strategies. In this research, the net CO2 emissions of cities in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2020 are calculated using the carbon-emission-factor calculation model, then the Geodetector is utilized to evaluate the single-factor explanatory power and two-factor interactions among the fourteen various influencing variables, and then the spatial econometric model is employed to analyze the spatial spillover effects of these key factors. The results show the following: (1) The net CO2 emissions present significant regional differences among the ten cities of Shaanxi Province, notably Xi’an City, Yulin City, and Weinan City, which have recorded remarkable contributions with the respective totals reaching 72.2593 million tons, 76.3031 million tons, and 58.1646 million tons. (2) Regarding temporal trend changes, the aggregate net CO2 emissions across whole province underwent a marked expansion from 2005 to 2019. Yulin City and Shangluo City exhibit remarkable surges, with respective average annual growth rates soaring at 7.38% and 7.39%. (3) From the perspective of influencing factors, GDP exhibits the most pronounced correlation spanning the entire province. Meanwhile, foreign investment emerges as a significant contributor specifically in Xi’an and Yulin City. Moreover, interaction detection reveals most factor combinations exhibit bi-enhancement, while a few exhibits intricate and non-linear enhancement. (4) The SDM regression and fixed-effect analysis reveal that city GDP had a positive spillover effect on neighboring cities’ net CO2 emission, while investment in scientific research and technology services, along with per capita construction land, exhibit notable negative spillovers, suggesting potential emission reduction benefits across cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Capture and Utilization: Sustainable Environment)
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16 pages, 4704 KiB  
Article
Promoting Sustainability in the Cement Industry: Evaluating the Potential of Portuguese Calcined Clays as Clinker Substitutes for Sustainable Cement Production
by Karyne Ferreira dos Santos, Samuel Santos, Manuel Vieira, António Santos Silva and Cinthia Maia Pederneiras
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10365; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310365 - 27 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1960
Abstract
The cement industry significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions, posing several challenges for a future low-carbon economy. In order to achieve the target established by the European Sustainable Development Goals of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, the European Cement Association (Cembureau) has [...] Read more.
The cement industry significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions, posing several challenges for a future low-carbon economy. In order to achieve the target established by the European Sustainable Development Goals of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, the European Cement Association (Cembureau) has devised a comprehensive roadmap based on five key approaches, referred to as the 5C strategies. Portland clinker is one of the crucial concerns, since its production emits over 60% of the cement manufacturing emissions. Therefore, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to partially replace clinker content in cement have gained significant attention in providing alternatives to traditional clinker in cement production. This paper evaluates the potential of Portuguese calcined clays (CCs) as viable substitutes for clinker to enhance sustainability in cement manufacturing. More than 50 clays were characterised through chemical and mineralogical analyses to assess their reactivity and suitability for calcination using the strength activity index (SAI), along with XRD, XRF, and TGA techniques. This study investigated the calcination conditions that provide the best clay reactivity, which were subsequently used for calcination. This investigation is part of a project to evaluate the behaviour of calcined clays through mechanical, hydration, and durability properties. The findings indicate that Portuguese calcined clays exhibit promising pozzolanic activity. Furthermore, these clays could significantly reduce CO2 emissions and raw material consumption in cement production. This research underscores the potential of local calcined clays as a sustainable clinker substitute, promoting eco-friendly practices in the construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Capture and Utilization: Sustainable Environment)
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