Polyethyleneimine loading into high internal phase emulsion polymer for CO₂ adsorption

Abstract

The research aim was to synthesis new type of adsorbent for CO2 adsorption. Polymer obtained from high internal phase emulsion or “polyHIPE” is focused because it contains many advantages i.e. very high surface area and flexible facilitating a design needed. The polyHIPE was synthesis from divinylbenzene (DVB) and vinyl benzyl chloride (VBC). Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is one of the polymers containing amine functional group in the structure that can be used to capture CO2. However, most PEI adsorbents have been prepared by impregnation into porous material, which PEI can plug the pore. Furthermore, interaction between PEI and the adsorbent surface is low, so PEI can be loss during being regenerated. In this study, PEI was added directly into polyHIPE during polymerization reaction to gain advantages, such as maintain high surface area and effective amine functional group of PEI. For the effects of monomer ratio, the appearance of each ratio is the same which are white porous solid, brittle and chalky. The surface area of the polyHIPE will be increased when the amount of DVB was increased. The monomer ratio providing the highest surface area was 100% DVB which was 303.0 m2/g. When 10 wt.% PEI was loaded into the polyHIPE the color of polyHIPE was pale yellow. At monomer ratio 100/0, there was only 0.11 wt.% of PEI. When the ratios of VBC were increased from 10% to 50%, percent of PEI loading in the polyHIPE was increased up to 1.7 wt.% but the percent of PEI in polyHIPE almost constant probably because 10 wt.% PEI reacted completely with 1.26% VBC. In addition, when percent of PEI in prepared solution was increased, percent of PEI in polyHIPE (monomer ratio 60/40) was increased, the highest percent of PEI in polyHIPE was 2.57 wt.%.