Vortex Flow: A Green Process Intensification Strategy for Absorption‐Based CO2 Capture

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, as a critical pathway for carbon neutrality, is the first step for carbon storage and utilization. The emerging swirl or vortex‐flow technologies offer effective strategies to enhance CO2 capture by absorption, particularly in intensifying mass transfer. Unfortunately, in such fields, more efforts have been placed on achieving chemical process‐based improvement instead of green, lightweight, and miniaturization‐based physical process intensification, which is a lost opportunity. This work provides a reflection on vortex‐flow‐based CO2 capture and advocates for a switch in mindset toward the simplified and environment‐friendly carbon capture process. It analyzes the recent advances in vortex‐flow principle, technology, and process methods for enhancing absorption‐based CO2 capture, with an emphasis on the multidimensionality of vortex‐flow dynamics, gas–liquid contact and patterns toward carbon capture, enhancement effect, process mechanisms of mass transfer, and modeling and simulation methodologies. Finally, the challenges of vortex‐flow‐based technology for CO2 capture are also prospected for future development in this field. 2025 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.