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Emerging trends in sustainable adsorption systems: Materials, optimization, and applications in carbon capture, cooling, storage, and atmospheric water harvesting

Author

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  • Shitole, Abhishek Madhav
  • Tiwari, Sumit
  • Sinhmar, Harender
  • Bellos, Evangelos

Abstract

The world demands sustainable technologies to address global challenges, where adsorption systems are true innovations that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This paper is a comprehensive overview of adsorption technology developed from 2000 to 2025, concentrating on the fundamental characteristics of adsorbent pairs, emphasizing material selection criteria and their various applications. The study explores heterogeneous adsorption pairs (conventional, composite, and metal-organic frameworks), highlighting their coefficient of performance, specific cooling power, and uptake capacity. It is being investigated that MOFs (MIL-100 (Fe)) demonstrate a rise of 25 % in adsorption capacity compared to traditional pairs (silica gel, zeolite, etc). The paper delves into the application of the adsorption system in thermal energy storage, atmospheric water harvesting, carbon capture, and adsorption chillers, focusing on the choice of material, performance metrics, and challenges. The silica gel/graphite composite shows a peak energy storage density of 740 kJ/kg, whereas silica gel of 10 mm thickness in AWH produces 391 L/kg m2 of water. The use of the 4-step temperature swing adsorption system increases carbon capture efficiency from 54.3 % to 84.6 %, and a composite sorbent SWS-9V delivers optimal cooling, achieving maximal water uptake of 0.5 g/g. The paper also reviews key strategies for increasing adsorption/desorption performance by utilizing low heat sources, optimized heat and mass transport cycles, and enhanced desorption assisted by ultrasound, microwave heating, fins, and tube beds. The observations aim to offer valuable insights to researchers seeking to advance in adsorption materials and adsorption systems, contributing to a more sustainable and green future.

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  • Shitole, Abhishek Madhav & Tiwari, Sumit & Sinhmar, Harender & Bellos, Evangelos, 2025. "Emerging trends in sustainable adsorption systems: Materials, optimization, and applications in carbon capture, cooling, storage, and atmospheric water harvesting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:221:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125005726
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115899
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