Advances in porous materials for efficient separation and purification of flue gas

[Display omitted] •An updated review of porous materials for the separation and purification of flue gas was provided.•The characteristics of porous materials like activated carbon, zeolites, and MOFs in flue gas separation were summarized.•The methods and mechanisms by which porous materials separate different components in flue gas were addressed. Environmental protection has emerged as a prominent global issue, with a particular focus on the detrimental effects of coal combustion on the environment and public health. Total energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 1.1 % in 2023, reaching a new record high of 37.4 Gt. Porous materials were extensively researched and applied to the separation and purification of various gases due to their high capacity, selectivity, stability, eco-friendly and low-cost. Activated carbon can adsorb up to 250.6 mg g−1 of toluene, while nitrogen-doped MOFs show CO2 adsorption capacities up to 6.67 mmol g−1 at 273 K. This review provides a summary of porous materials in the arena of flue gas separation and purification. It briefly elucidates their applications in different fields, including carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury (Hg0), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and concludes by emphasizing their advantages and the challenges they face.