Functionalisation of Poly(High Internal Phase Emulsion) with Amine for CO2 Capture

Abstract

An excellent porous material was prepared from vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) and divinylbenzene (DVB) via high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) technique and introduced with heterocyclic amines (piperazine or PZ, hydroxyethylpiperazine or HEP and aminoethylpiperazine or AEP) by post-functionalization for using as adsorbents in CO₂ capture applications. The reaction between the amine functional group and adsorbent was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The disappearance of C-Cl bonding at 1,265cm^-1 and 710 cm^-1 and the presence of N-H bonds at 3,400 cm^-1 and 1,670 cm^-1 were observed. The influence of the amine structure on the surface area and the conversion reaction of polyHIPE were investigated by surface area analysis and elemental analysis. In the CO₂ adsorption step, the feed gas concentration was 4 vol% of CO₂/N₂ with a flow rate of 5 mL/min, and was carried out at 298 K. The CO₂ concentration was continuously determined by gas chromatography. The dynamic adsorption capacity of PZ-HIPE, HEP-HIPE, and AEP-HIPE were 0.112, 0.057, and 0.074 mmol CO₂/mmol amine compound.