Effect of amines on high internal phase emulsion adsorbents for carbon dioxide adsorption

Abstract

High internal phase emulsion polymers (PolyHIPE) with amines, i.e. hexylamine and 1,3-diaminopropane were prepared. The oil-in-water emulsion system was obtained by mixing divinyIbenzene (DVB), vinylbenzylchloride (VBC) and surfactants (SpanR80, oil soluble surfactant and Triton X-100, water soluble surfactant). The optimum condition of the emulsion system was obtained by varying the ratio of the surfactants. The ratio of SpanR8o to Triton X-100 of 1.18 was optimum for polyHIPE reference, while an addition of amines, hexylamine showed the optimum at 1.50 and 1,3-diaminopropane at 0.81. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscope was used to confirm the presence of amine in polyHIPE by using the peak ratio change of C- vinyl at 900 cm¯¹ to 920 cm¯¹ to C -chloride at 729 cm¯¹. Scanning electron micrograph showed that the morphology of polyHIPE was spherical. Voids and fractures on the surface morphology were formed by agglomeration of small spheres and the surface area was a consequence of the effect of the oil soluble surfactant (SpanR80) that was dissolved into oil droplets and formed water-in-oil emulsion system. CO₂ adsorption capacities in dried and moisturized condition were measured by feeding 4% CO₂ in N₂ balanced through the adsorbent which was packed in the column. then the quantity of CO₂ was detected by gas chromatography (GC) and taken the value to calculate the CO₂ adsorption capacity. In the dried condition and the surfactant ratio of 0.72, the polyHIPE- 1,3- diaminopropane showed the highest CO₂ adsorption capacity (0.3770 mmol g). In the moisturized condition, all values of CO₂ adsorption capacities were lower than those of the dried conditions because the adsorption of moisture reduced the adsorption sites of CO₂.