Amine-impregnated MCM-41 in post-combustion CO2 capture: Synthesis, characterization, isotherm modelling

Abstract

In this study, a composite mesoporous silica material MCM-41 (Mobil composite matter) is impregnated with monoethanolamine (MEA) as primary linear amine, benzylamine (BZA) as primary cyclic amine and N-(2-aminoethyl) ethanolamine (AEEA) as secondary diamine and the effects of amine loading, amine type, CO2 partial pressure and adsorption temperatures on the CO2 adsorption are investigated. The CO2 adsorption performances of MCM-41 and amine impregnated MCM-41 samples are studied up to 1 bar of CO2 partial pressure and the temperature range of 25–60 °C. The amine loadings (% impregnation) are optimized for maximum CO2 uptake. The materials are characterised using N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Elemental (CHNS) analysis. The materials have shown good structural and thermal stability. The MCM-41-40%AEEA, MCM-41-40%BZA and MCM-41-50%MEA samples are exhibited the CO2 adsorption capacity of 2.34 mmol/g (102.98 mg/g), 0.908 mmol/g (39.96 mg/g) and 1.47 mmol/g (64.69 mg/g) respectively. The CO2 uptake of MCM-41-40%AEEA is 3.5 times higher than that of in MCM-41 (0.68 mmol/g) and it is also the highest reported value as di-amine impregnated MCM-41. The results indicated that the adsorption capacities of the materials (MCM-41 and MCM-41-40%AEEA) are decreased with an increase of adsorption temperature in the range of 25–60 °C. The Freundlich, Langmuir, Sips and Toth isotherm models are used to correlate and predict experimental CO2 adsorption data. The Sips and Toth isotherm models are found to be better fitted with the experimental data. The isosteric heat of adsorption of MCM-41 and MCM-41-40%AEEA samples are also calculated from Van’t Hoff plot using iSorbHP-win instrumental analysis software in the experimental temperature range.