Carbon dioxide adsorption performance of N-doped zeolite Y templated carbons

Abstract

N-Doped microporous carbons are prepared using zeolite NaY as a hard template with furfuryl alcohol/acetonitrile as carbon precursors. CO2 adsorption performances of these carbons are investigated intensively. Structure analysis shows that the replication of zeolite regularity, pore texture and the type of nitrogen functionalities strongly depends on the carbonization temperature. Basic nitrogen functionalities can be efficiently introduced into the carbon framework, which significantly facilitate CO2 uptake via chemical adsorption. The CO2 adsorption isotherms correlated with the Dubinin–Astakhov models, and the isosteric heats of adsorption are calculated using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. The maximum CO2 adsorption capacity of 10.4 wt% is obtained for the YTC7 carbon due to its high surface area and abundant nitrogen functionalities. CO2 chemical adsorption on the carbons decreases with carbonization temperature due to the decomposition of basic nitrogen functionalities at higher temperature. High CO2 adsorption capacities of up to 9.3 wt% at 25 °C and 4.1 wt% at 70 °C are obtained for the YTC6 carbon. The present study suggests that low temperature vapor deposition of acetonitrile is a promising alternative method of toxic ammonia treatment for CO2 adsorption.