Development of 3D-Printed Carbon Capture Adsorbents by Zeolites Derived from Coal Fly Ash

Abstract

The present study aims to develop 3D-structured adsorbents for carbon capture with the utilization of coal ash after its conversion into zeolites. For this purpose, printing paste mixtures with a viscosity of 800 Pa·s were developed based on an environmentally friendly and safe polymer binder filled with coal ash zeolite with the addition of bentonite as a filler. The optimal consistency of the printing mixtures for preserving the shape and dimensions of the 3D-printed structures was established. Various model configurations of the macrostructure of 3D adsorbents were developed, and the optimal settings of the extruding system for their printing were established. After calcination, the resulting 3D structures were studied using instrumental analysis techniques, investigating the influence of 3D structuring on the phase composition, surface characteristics, and adsorption capacity for CO2 capture in comparison with the initial powder coal ash zeolite adsorbents. The role of compensating cations in terms of the adsorption ability of powders in 3D-printed adsorbents was investigated. The current study offers an innovative and previously unexplored approach to a more expedient and practically significant utilization of aluminosilicate solid waste and, in particular, coal ash, through their 3D structuring and outlines a new research and technological direction in the development of economically advantageous, technologically feasible, and environmentally friendly 3D adsorbents.