CO2 Capture Using Amine-impregnated Activated Carbon from Jatropha curcas Shell

This study is aimed at the synthesis and amine functionalization of Jatropha curcas activated carbon. Waste Jatropha curcas shell was used to produce the Jatropha Activated Carbon (JAC) via chemical activation with Potasium hydroxide (KOH). The JAC was modified with triethanolamine (TEA) to produce (JAC-TEA). The performance of both adsorbents in CO2 capture study was evaluated in a cylindrical glass column equipped with a digital mass balance. The effect of adsorbent dosage (0.5-1.5 g) and temperature (30-60°C) as a function of time was investigated. The results showed that CO2 adsorption capacities of the adsorbents increase on amine loading and adsorbent dosage (bed height), while the adsorption capacity decreases with increase in temperature. Adsorption capacity of JAC and JAC-TEA were 66 and 78 mg/g respectively. Crystallinity, morphological structure and surface functional groups of adsorbents were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transformed Infra red spectrophotometer respectively, while the surface areas and porosity were determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. Both adsorbents had good crystallinity with a well-developed pore structures. The mechanism of CO2 adsorption onto JAC and JAC-TEA is physisorption and that the adsorbent (JAC-TEA) can be used upto 7 cycles. The results of this study have revealed that a cost-effective high quality porous activated carbon can be prepared from a cheap carbonaceous material like Jatropha curcas shell and modified to improve its CO2adsorption capacity.