Carbon dioxide adsorption and cycloaddition reaction of epoxides using chitosan–graphene oxide nanocomposite as a catalyst

Abstract

One of today's major challenges is to provide green materials for a cleaner environment. We have conducted studies on carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption and conversion to valuable products by an ecofriendly approach based in chitosan/graphene oxide (CSGO) nanocomposite film. Rheological behavior indicates that the CSGO has a better solvation property than the pure chitosan. An adsorption capacity of 1.0152mmolCO2/g of CSGO nanocomposite at 4.6bar was observed. The catalytic behavior of the CSGO nanocomposite in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium iodide (n-Bu4NI) as co-catalyst was evaluated for the cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides, to give cyclic carbonates, in the absence of any solvent. These results strongly suggest that the CSGO nanocomposite may open new vistas towards the development of ecofriendly material for catalytic conversion and adsorption of CO2 on industrial scale.