Synthesis and characterization of waste Styrofoam hypercrosslinked polymer as an adsorbent for CO₂ capture

Abstract

In this work, we used waste Styrofoam as a precursor to synthesize a hypercrosslinked polymeric (HCP) adsorbent for CO2 adsorption utilizing the Friedel–Craft procedure. The hypercrosslinked adsorbent was designed using formaldehyde dimethyl acetal (FDA) as the crosslinker. The precursor to crosslinker to catalyst ratio was 1:3:3, and the HCP synthesis was carried out for 12 h at 312.6 K. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to analyze the waste Styrofoam hypercrosslinked (WSHC) adsorbent. The adsorbent attained an 802.84 m2/g Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and an average pore diameter of 2.869 m3/g. The CO2 adsorption process was studied under different operating conditions, temperature between 298 and 328 K and pressure between 2 and 10 bar. WSHC adsorbent has the maximum CO2 uptake with a value of 11.053 mmol/g at 298 K and 10 bar. The behavior of the adsorption process was investigated using isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic models. Experimental findings indicated that the Sips isotherm and the second‐order kinetic models provided the best fit. The isotherm data indicated that adsorption occurs in multi‐layers and is heterogeneous. According to the thermodynamic characteristics, the process is exothermic and spontaneous. Finally, the kinetic findings established that the process happened physically. Additionally, a regeneration study after seven cycles revealed a 96.1% success rate. The current research may attempt to use waste Styrofoam as a gas separation adsorbent in the industry.

“Functional upcycling” of polymer waste towards the design of new materials

“…391 The adsorption capacity for CO 2 of hyper-cross-linked waste PS was 2-2.52 mmol g À1 at 1 bar (Table 5(4)). 365,366,378 An increased capacity of 11 mmol g À1 was registered at 10 bar, 367 which is comparable to that of activated carbon materials, 392 zeolites, and certain MOFs. 393,394 Ghaemi et al demonstrated another application of HCP waste PS for O 2 /N 2 separation with an adsorption capacity of 12.78 and 7.67 mmol g À1 for O 2 and N 2 , respectively, at 5 1C and 10 bar.…”

“…364 In addition, the presence of relatively electron-rich aryls inducing dipole interactions with CO 2 or CO 2 -philic amine groups is favorable for CO 2 capture and utilisation in the separation of a N 2 /CH 4 mixture. 381 The adsorption capacity for metal ions on PS waste-derived adsorbents ranges from 5-65 mg g À1 , 362,379,380 which is less than or comparable to that of modern polymer composite adsorbents, 382,383 but higher than that of cross-linked [361][362][363] (d) formation of hydrazones; 364 (e) cross-linking reaction; [365][366][367] (f) radical trifluoromethylation; 368,369 (and g) hydroarylation. 110 This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2023 high-power field (HPF) membranes produced from PS and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), 384 sulfonated fly ash, 385 or magnetic carbon nanotube (CNT)-based aerogels.…”

“…Fig. 12 Functionalisation of PS: (a) nitration; 48 (b) sulfonation using different sources of electrophilic; 59,356-360 (c) Friedel-Crafts acylation/alkylation;361- 363 (d) formation of hydrazones; 364 (e) cross-linking reaction;[365][366][367] (f) radical trifluoromethylation;368,369 (and g) hydroarylation 110. …”

CO2 capture by benzene‐based hypercrosslinked polymer adsorbent: Artificial neural network and response surface methodology

“…[ 41 ] Luo et al investigated the CO 2 and H 2 adsorption capacity of polythiophene‐, polypyrrole‐, and polyfuran‐based HCPs at 273 and 77 K. [ 44 ] Zhu et al investigated the CO 2 capture process at 273 and 298 K using HCP adsorbent based on carbazole and 2,4,6‐Tricarbazolo−1,3,5‐triazine as a monomer. [ 48 ] Maleki et al studied CO 2 adsorption by waste Styrofoam‐based HCP sample at temperatures between 298–328 K. [ 49 ]…”

“…[41] Luo et al investigated the CO 2 and H 2 adsorption capacity of polythiophene-, polypyrrole-, and polyfuran-based HCPs at 273 and 77 K. [44] Zhu et al investigated the CO 2 capture process at 273 and 298 K using HCP adsorbent based on carbazole and 2,4,6-TricarbazoloÀ1,3,5-triazine as a monomer. [48] Maleki et al studied CO 2 adsorption by waste Styrofoam-based HCP sample at temperatures between 298-328 K. [49] Based on the literature review, many works of research on HCP materials have investigated the morphological and physicochemical properties of these materials, while for industrial applications of these samples as the CO 2 adsorbent candidate, the exact kinetic and isothermal information, a predictive model for CO 2 adsorption capability assessment, and the optimal operating condition should be available. [33] Due to the costly and time-consuming nature of laboratory experiments, it is necessary to develop a predictive mathematical model for CO 2 capacity forecasting.…”