CO2 Adsorption by CMK-3 at Low Temperatures and High Pressure to Reduce the Greenhouse Effect

Abstract

In this study, the maximum CO2 capture capacity of an ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) was evaluated at high pressure (35 atm) and several temperatures (0, 10, 20, and 35 °C). CMK-3 was synthesized with the hard template method (silica SBA-15) using furfuryl alcohol and toluene as carbon sources. The CO2 adsorption isotherms were fitted to the following adsorption theories: Freundlich, Langmuir, Sips, Toth, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Temkin. The maximum capture capacity (726.7 mg·g−1) was achieved at 0 °C and 34 atm. The results of the study of successive adsorption–desorption cycles showed that multi-cycle reversible gas capture processes could be used in optimal temperature and pressure conditions. It was determined that 0.478 g of CMK-3 would be required to reduce the CO2 concentration in 1 m3 of air to pre-industrial levels (280 ppm). The obtained results may contribute to technological developments for the mitigation of human impacts on the environment through the capture of atmospheric CO2.