Finding and Evaluating of Adequate Adsorbents for the Adsorption of CO2from Humid Gas Streams

Abstract

By studying the literature adsorbent materials were identified that are suitable for the physical and/or chemical adsorption of anthropogenic CO2 from gas streams that are nearly saturated with water vapor. Promising adsorbents (silica Tri-PE-MCM-41, Zeolite 5 A BF, MOF Mg(DOBDC), MOF Basolite C300, and 3-Aminopropyl-functionalized silica) were investigated regarding their behavior in breakthrough experiments with CO2 and water vapor. Only the amine-functionalized silica Tri-PE-MCM-41, if preloaded with water, has suitable properties for this application. This is also the case for pelletized Tri-PE-MCM-41, considering an industrial application. The thermodynamic analysis of pure CO2 adsorption using the ALIc model shows that the strongest binding forces between the CO2 molecule and the adsorbent wall are present during the adsorption of CO2 onto Tri-PE-MCM-41. Differential and integral enthalpies of the system CO2/Zeolite 5ABF also show the strong affinity of this adsorbent/adsorptive system.