Continuous-motion direct air capture system

A method for continuously separating carbon dioxide from a mixture of gases containing carbon dioxide, the method comprising:

• flowing, at an adsorption assembly, the mixture of gases containing carbon dioxide through a portion of an array of porous monoliths, each monolith supporting a sorbent for carbon dioxide within its pores, thereby enabling the sorbent to sorb carbon dioxide from the flow of the mixture of gases;
• containing a portion of the array of porous monoliths within a regeneration assembly sealed from the flowing mixture of gases, wherein the contained portion of the array of porous monoliths in the regeneration assembly is sequentially exposed to a plurality of zones, including a first zone for reducing an oxygen level in the portion of the array of porous monoliths contained within the first zone, a second zone for heating the portion of the array of porous monoliths contained within the second zone to release and collect the sorbed carbon dioxide, and a third zone for cooling the portion of the array of porous monoliths contained within the third zone;
• and
• returning the contained portion of the array of porous monoliths to the adsorption assembly via relative movement between the array of porous monoliths and the regeneration assembly, thereby enabling further sorbing of carbon dioxide onto the portion of the array of porous monoliths.