Synthesis, characterization and application of alkanolamidines and alkanolguanidines in CO(2) capture

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to the atmosphere is partly responsible for climate change. In order to mitigate these environmental effects CO2 capture and storage is required. Solvents currently used for this application are the energy intensive aqueous amines. Here we present the synthesis, characterization and CO2 uptake of new advanced solvents called alkanolamidines and alkanolguanidines otherwise known as CO2-binding organic Liquids (CO2BOLs). These solvents have been designed to have decreased vapor pressure and low viscosity in order to increase the CO2 uptake capacity while minimizing evaporative losses. Alkanolamidines were synthesized in 1-3 steps from commercially available materials. These compounds bind CO2 chemically via the alcohol moiety forming zwitterionic alkylcarbonates. The alkanolamidines can be regenerated thermally by heating the alkylcarbonate to 75 °C. CO2 binding capacities up to 10 wt% were achieved using these compounds. These compounds have the potential to be energy efficient CO2 capture solvents.