Insights of CO2 adsorption performance of amine impregnated mesoporous silica (SBA-15) at wide range pressure and temperature conditions

Beside IGCC, efficient storage and transportation of CO2 and other gases require pressurize conditions. CO2 and other gases adsorption on solid sorbents at high pressure and various temperatures are extremely important as long as the environmental purification via gas capture and separation and gas transpiration are concern. The main objective of the present research was to investigate the effect of amine impregnation on the CO2, methane and nitrogen adsorption capacity of mesoporous silica (SBA-15). Ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) was prepared and modified with ammonium hydroxide solution to introduce NH2 functional groups within the pores of materials to produce modified SBA-15 (MSBA-15). The newly prepared materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis were performed to measure pore volume as well as the surface area of both the unmodified and modified samples. Results revealed that the crystal structures of SBA-15 were matched with that of MSBA15; yet, pore volume of the modified material was almost reduced to 50% of the pristine material indicating amine loading into the pore channels. Importantly, gas sorption capacity was investigated at 200 bars and three different temperatures of 318 K, 328 K, and 338 K by using state-of-the-art gravimetric Rubotherm® magnetic suspension sorption apparatus. Gas sorption experiments showed that modified mesoporous silica adsorbed 1.6164 mmol/g of CO2 at 1 bar which is almost double than that of 0.6462 mmol/g adsorbed by unmodified material. Quantitative selectivity of both the materials varied as CO2 > CH4 > N2.