High Pressure CO2 Uptake of Amine Modified Commercial Activated Carbon

The development of solid adsorbent materials is one potential route to significantly reduce the energy penalty associated with pre-combustion power generation, and reducing the environmental impact of anthropogenic CO 2. In this paper, a commercial activated carbon was modified with amine with the aim of improving its surface affinity for CO 2 capture.  The physical properties of the adsorbents have been evaluated and related to the materials CO 2 adsorption capacity, determined using Thermogravimetric analysis at ambient pressure and high pressure volumetric analyzer (HPVA) at high pressure. Total pore volumes positively influenced the trend of adsorption capacities of the carbons at ambient condition while a positive adsorption trend was recorded with respect to micropore volume and surface area at high pressure. In addition, approximately 2.7 and 6.5 mmol g -1 of CO 2 uptake was achieved at ambient and high pressures respectively. This is the first time a pressure of up to 4.1 MPa is employed on an amine modified commercial activated carbon for CO 2 capture purpose.