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BIOPOLYMERIC MATERIALS FOR CO2 CAPTURE AND CONVERSION: THE PROMISE OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN
Abstract
The continuous accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere represents one of the greatest challenges to achieving a sustainable and circular carbon economy. Traditional capture technologies based on aqueous amines are effective but suffer from high energy penalties, corrosion, and environmental toxicity. In contrast, bio-based polymers offer renewable, low-impact alternatives for CO2 capture and subsequent transformation. Chitin and its deacetylated derivative chitosan emerge as particularly promising due to their abundance in marine waste, intrinsic amine functionalities, and compatibility with mild processing routes. Their molecular structure enables reversible carbamate and bicarbonate formation, and they may also serve as precursors to nitrogen-doped carbon materials with enhanced porosity and catalytic activity. This review integrates methodological details on the transformation of chitin and chitosan into N-doped carbons, evaluates their performance relative to other biopolymers and traditional CO2 capture technologies, and discusses challenges such as moisture sensitivity, limited surface area, and scalability. Opportunities for industrial implementation and pathway integration are explored to provide a balanced, forward-looking perspective on the role of chitin-based systems in sustainable carbon capture and utilization.
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