Critical review on mobile direct air capture: Concept expansion, characteristic description, and performance evaluation

Summary

The widespread adoption of direct air capture (DAC) is necessary for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, on-site DAC development faces challenges like inconsistent technical solutions and significant initial investment. The proposal of mobile DAC offers an alternative technical route to scaling up DAC through distributed deployment, introducing a brand-new application scenario. Two types of mobile DAC are concerned, including integrating DAC with the existing transportation equipment and specialized mobile DAC devices for sniffing and capturing CO₂. The detailed discussions cover the fundamental operation strategies and performance evaluation. Firstly, the mobile DAC in vehicles and ships is reviewed, focusing on integrating conventional DAC systems with common transportation. Then, the specialized devices for CO₂ sniffing and capturing, i.e., mobile DAC in low- and high-altitude aircraft, are proposed. This review envisions a future where mobile DAC technology is widely deployed in various human activity spaces, serving as a standard negative-emission solution.