In this paper, a semi-automated ZLC technique was used to study the stability of novel adsorbents in the presence of water, SOx and NOx impurities present in coal-fired power plant flue gas. The tests were carried out at 38 degrees C and 0.1 bar pressure on the most promising materials of the M/DOBDC ((M = Co, Ni, Mg)) MOF series, as well as on commercial 13X zeolite pellets. The experimental results indicated that even if the DOBDC family shows high CO2 adsorption capacity at low partial pressure at ambient conditions, impurities have a strong effect on their stability. The ZLC system provides quantitative information on the deactivation of samples due to SOx and NOx in a relatively short time and using less than 15 mg of sample. The fact that the treatment can be repeated in situ in the apparatus used also for measuring the CO2 capacity of the sample has shown that the ZLC can be a valuable tool in screening novel adsorbents for carbon capture applications. (C) 2018 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.