A review on recent developments in Zeolite A synthesis for improved carbon dioxide capture: Implications for the water-energy nexus

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission plays a crucial role in global warming, and their capture using porous materials is a suitable approach for tackling climate change. Developing highly efficient and low-cost porous adsorbent materials for CO2 capture is an active and sustained research area. Zeolites are well known for their carbon dioxide capture capability. Amid various zeolitic adsorbents developed, zeolite A performs higher CO2 adsorption capacity and has more affinity towards carbon dioxide gas than other types such as zeolite X and Y. Various synthesis methods and sources of silica and alumina are available for zeolite A synthesis. Zeolite A has certain drawbacks like limited diffusion and pore blockage due to the microporous structure. Modification has opened up a new path to hierarchical zeolite A, which has greater CO2 uptake. Herein, we review the structure, synthesis methods, and sources of zeolite A. This review also discusses the potentiality of Zeolite A in carbon dioxide capture, the recent advancement in the hierarchical structure, favorable effects on CO2 adsorption capacity after modifications and the implications for water-energy nexus.