C 2016, 2(4), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/c2040025
CO2 Adsorption by para-Nitroaniline Sulfuric Acid-Derived Porous Carbon Foam
Enrico Andreoli 1,*
and Andrew R. Barron 1,2,3
and Andrew R. Barron 1,2,31
Energy Safety Research Institute, Swansea University Bay Campus, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
2
Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
3
Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Craig E. Banks
Received: 25 November 2016 / Revised: 14 December 2016 / Accepted: 16 December 2016 / Published: 21 December 2016
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Processes for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation)
Abstract
The expansion product from the sulfuric acid dehydration of para-nitroaniline has been characterized and studied for CO2 adsorption. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization of the foam indicates that both N and S contents (15 and 9 wt%, respectively) are comparable to those separately reported for nitrogen- or sulfur-containing porous carbon materials. The analysis of the XPS signals of C1s, O1s, N1s, and S2p reveals the presence of a large number of functional groups and chemical species. The CO2 adsorption capacity of the foam is 7.9 wt% (1.79 mmol/g) at 24.5 °C and 1 atm in 30 min, while the integral molar heat of adsorption is 113.6 kJ/mol, indicative of the fact that chemical reactions characteristic of amine sorbents are observed for this type of carbon foam. The kinetics of adsorption is of pseudo-first-order with an extrapolated activation energy of 18.3 kJ/mol comparable to that of amine-modified nanocarbons. The richness in functionalities of H2SO4-expanded foams represents a valuable and further pursuable approach to porous carbons alternative to KOH-derived activated carbons. View Full-TextKeywords:
porous carbon; nitrogen; sulfur; CO2; nitroaniline; sulfuric acid
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Andreoli, E.; Barron, A.R. CO2 Adsorption by para-Nitroaniline Sulfuric Acid-Derived Porous Carbon Foam. C 2016, 2, 25.
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