Polyurethane /Ionic Silica Xerogel Composites for CO2 Capture

Abstract

Capturing carbon dioxide (CO 2) from exhaust gases is an important strategy to prevent climate change. There is a great interest in developing novel CO 2 sorbents. Thus, a series of polyurethane (PU) / silica xerogels functionalized with RTILs (bmim Cl and bmim TF 2 N) composites were prepared and characterized. PU matrix was reinforced with functionalized silica xerogels in the range of 0.5-20 wt%. PU / functionalized silica xerogels were characterized by NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMTA and FESEM. CO 2 sorption capacity and reusability were assessed by the pressure-decay technique at 298.15 K and 1 bar. Results showed that the filler aggregation in PU matrix promoted the reduction of mechanical properties. However, addition of silica xerogels functionalized with RTILs in PU matrix led to increased CO 2 uptake. CO 2 sorption capacity tends to increase with the incorporation of silica xerogels functionalized with RTILs in PU matrix. The best CO 2 sorption value was found for PU/SX-[Bmim]-[TF 2 N] 0.5 composite (48.5 mgCO 2 /g at 298.15 K and 1 bar). Moreover, the PU/SX-[Bmim]-[TF 2 N] 0.5 composite showed reuse capacity and higher CO 2 sorption value as compared to other reported composites.

Investigation of the Gas Separation Properties of Polyurethane Membranes in Presence of Boehmite Nanoparticles

“…According to the ndings, the ller aggregation in the PU matrix enhanced the loss of mechanical characteristics. The addition of silica xerogels functionalized with RTILs to the PU matrix, on the other hand, resulted in higher CO 2 uptake [14].…”