[Low-Concentration CO₂ Adsorption on Polyaniline/Zeolite Y Composites]

Three polyaniline (PANI)/zeolite Y composites with different polyaniline loads, PANI-Y-1, PANI-Y-2 and PANI-Y-3, were prepared by in situ chemical oxidation polymerization method using different amounts of aniline. The structural characteristics of these materials were analyzed by FT-IR and nitrogen adsorption experiment. The adsorption and regeneration properties of the composites for low-concentration CO₂ at atmosphere pressure were investigated. Characterization results show that aniline is successfully polymerized in and out side of channels of zeolite Y. The above three materials, whose pores are composed of macropores and mesopores, have specific surface areas of 52, 54 and 35 m2 g -¹, respectively. In addition, a composite with high polyaniline loading has low pore volumes. At 20°C, CO₂ adsorption on the three composites and zeolite Y are well fitted with the Logistic model, and the adsorption amount of CO₂ with initial concentration of 10% follows an order of PANI-Y-2 (2.09 mmol · g⁻¹) > PANI-Y-3 (1.79 mmol · g⁻¹) > PANI-Y-l (1.07 mmol · g⁻¹) > zeolite Y (0.80 mmol · g⁻¹. The adsorption order of the composites is the result of combined effects from polyaniline amount and specific surface area of adsorbents. With concentrations ranging between 2% and 10% CO2 adsorption amount increases when initial concentration is raised. With adsorption temperature changing from 25° to 6°C, low temperature is advantageous to enhancing CO₂ adsorption. For PANI-Y-2, only a low regeneration efficiency of 68% is obtained after four times thermal desorption at 80°C. However, the regeneration efficiency could be increased up to 94% by aqueous ammonia combined with thermal treatment method.