Improved Hydrogel as Potential Carbon Dioxide Adsorbent

Abstract

Hydrogel is a versatile material that vastly used in various applications. In this study, the carbon dioxide capture properties of hydrogels were further improved with the infusion of amine. Three types of superabsorbent hydrogel namely polyacrylic acid (AAc), sodium polyacrylate (SAP) and polyacrylamide (AAm) were synthesized via simple solution polymerization with the aid of ammonium peroxodisulphate (APS) as the initiator and N,N’- methylenebis (acrylamide)(MBA) as the crosslinker. Diethanolamine (DEA) loading AAm hydrogel has recorded 0.9 mmol CO2 captured/ g hydrogel and monoethaolamine (MEA) loading AAm hydrogel has captured 1.7 mmol CO2 / g hydrogel. An increment up to 2.2 mmol CO2 captured/ g hydrogel was obtained when the ratio of hydrogel to amine loading was increased to 1:4 from 1:1. In term of regeneration of the adsorbent, this amine infused hydrogels maintained its maximum adsorption capacity until third cycle. The amine infused hydrogel provide a facile platform for developing solid sorbents for CO2 capture.