Functionalization and characterization of a zirconia-based material for the adsorption of CO2

Abstract

The scope of this project was to study the capture capacity of CO2 using zirconium dioxide with modification of its surface with alkylamines. Functionalization of ZrO2 with amines was done using the reagents: Monoethanolamide (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) and Polyethyleneimine (BPEI). The presence of these amines on the surface of the zirconia was confirmed by means of the FT-IR assay, when the presence of functional groups C-N was detected in the bands generated in the spectra for each sample. The material was characterized in terms of its CO2 adsorption capacity through thermogravimetry, where the results argued an adsorption efficiency in the following order: BPEI> MEA> DEA> TEA> SIN AMINA. This reaction is due to the amount of N at the surface of each sample that can forme a greater number of bonds with the CO2 atoms and also the steric hindrance that is stronger with the increase in the size of the functionalizing molecule. Finally, the kinetics was studied and the experimental data were modeled using the pseudo first and second order model of the Langergren equations, which revealed that the pseudo second order kinetic model fitted well with the kinetic data of CO2 adsorption in zirconia.