Synthesis of hierarchical meso-macroporous silica monolith using chitosan as biotemplate and its application as polyethyleneimine support for CO2 capture

This present study reported for the first time the use of chitosan as biotemplate in the synthesis of hierarchical meso-macroporous silica monolith. The calcined silica monolith was characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N-2 adsorption-desorption measurements and mercury porosimeter. The obtained silica monolith showed a bicontinuous macroporous structure with mesopore-channels distributing inside macroporous skeleton wall. The total pore volume of silica monolith was as large as 2.36 cm(3)/g with a high BET surface area of 246 m(2)/g. Polyethyleneimine-loaded silica monolith exhibited a high CO2 adsorption capacity with an excellent reversible CO2 adsorption-desorption performance. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.