Adsorption of CO2 on Activated Carbons Prepared by Chemical Activation with Cupric Nitrate.

Activated carbons were prepared from a lignocellulosic material, African palm shells (Elaeis guineensis), by chemical impregnation of the precursor with solutions of 1-7% w/v Cu(NO3)2 at five different concentrations. These were carbonized in a carbon dioxide atmosphere at 1073 K to obtain different carbons. Their textural properties were characterized by nitrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption isotherms in order to evaluate the pore-size distribution. The immersion enthalpies of the activated carbons in benzene, dichloromethane, and water were determined. The CO2 adsorption capacities of the materials at 273 K under low-pressure conditions were also determined. Chemical characterization was performed by mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction. With this method of preparation under the concentrations described, activated micro-mesoporous carbons were obtained, with the formation of highly mesoporous solids that favored the process of diffusion of molecules of CO2 into the material. Here, we show that activated carbons were obtained with different textural characteristics: surface Brunauer-Emmett-Teller areas varied between 473 and 1361 m2 g-1 and micropore volume between 0.18 and 0.51 cm3 g-1. The activated carbon with the highest values of textural parameters was ACCu5-1073. Micro-mesoporous solids were obtained with the methodology used. This is important as it may help the entry of CO2 molecules into the pores. The adsorption of CO2 in the materials prepared presented values between 103 and 217 mg CO2 g-1; the values of volume of narrow microporosity obtained were between 0.16 and 0.45 cm3 g-1. The solid with the greatest capacity for adsorption of CO2 and volume of narrow microporosity was ACCu3-1073. The use of these solids is of importance for future practical and industrial applications. The adsorption kinetic of CO2 in the activated carbons prepared with metallic salt of copper is in good accordance with the intraparticle diffusion model, for which diffusion is the rate-limiting step. The adsorption of CO2 in the prepared activated carbons is favorable from the energy and kinetic point of view, as these accompanied by the presence of wide micro-mesoporosity favor the entry of CO2 into the micropores.