CO2 capture with post-modified nitrile and styrene-butadiene-styrene rubbers

Abstract

Here, we report the transition metal-catalyzed hydrogenation or combined hydrocyanation/hydrogenation of abundant but difficult-to-recycle consumer nitrile and styrene-butadiene-styrene rubbers to generate non-porous solid amine adsorbents that capture and release CO2 by thermal swing adsorption. The protocol is showcased with real-life samples such as nitrile gloves. Despite being non-porous, the rubber-derived amine materials display excellent and fast CO2 adsorption of up to an average capacity of 3.05 mmol/g when subjected to simulated flue gas at 90°C. Furthermore, the materials are shown to be complementary to the state-of-the-art solid adsorbent, Calgary Framework 20 (CALF-20), which is less effective at this temperature. We anticipate that our work will provide a potential pathway forward to rapidly accessing new solid adsorbents from consumer rubbers for managing CO2 emissions.