Experimental, RSM modelling, and DFT simulation of CO₂ adsorption on Modified activated carbon with LiOH

This research investigates the enhancement of CO₂ adsorption capacity through the use of modified activated carbon (AC) with LiOH, focusing on operational conditions and adsorbent properties. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is employed to optimize process parameters for maximizing CO₂ adsorption capacity. The study considers temperature, pressure, LiOH concentration for modification, and adsorbent weight as independent variables across five levels. Analysis of Variance reveals that LiOH concentration, adsorbent quantity, pressure, and temperature significantly influence CO₂ adsorption. Optimal values for temperature (30°C), pressure (9 bar), LiOH concentration (0.5 mol/L), and adsorbent weight (0.5 g) result in a maximal CO₂ adsorption capacity of 154.90 mg/g. Equilibrium adsorption capacity is utilized for modeling, with the Freundlich model proving suitable for CO₂ adsorption on LiOH-AC. Kinetic modeling indicates the second-order model's suitability for temperatures of 30 °C and 50 °C, while the Elovich model fits temperatures of 70 °C and 90 °C. Thermodynamic modeling at the optimized conditions (303 K and 6 bar) yields ∆H, ∆S, and ∆G values of adsorption as 12.258 kJ/mol, - 0.017 kJ/mol·K, and - 7.031 kJ/mol, respectively. Furthermore, structural considerations of AC are discussed alongside modeling and simulation, presenting the adsorption rate of CO₂ and the binding energy index based on Density Functional Theory (DFT).