Developing new methods and technologies that compete with conventional industrial processes for CO2 capture and recovery is a hot topic in the current research. Conventional processes do not fit with the current approach of process intensification but take advantage due to their maturity and large-scale implementation. Acting in a precombusion scenario or post-combustion scenario involves the separation of CO2/H-2 or CO2/N-2, respectively. Membrane-based technology is under development aiming at advancing towards sustainable systems that minimizes CO2 emissions. Three main approaches are mainly under study: i) non-dispersive absorption using porous membranes: ii) gas permeation; and, iii) supported liquid membranes. In this paper, a general view of the recent achievements for those systems and the ruin limitations and challenges to be faced are described, addressing the next steps that should be considered to advance as fast as possible towards realistic solutions for CO2 capture. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.