Amine loaded zeolites for carbon dioxide capture: Amine loading and adsorption studies

Novel functionalised adsorbents have been synthesized by immobilization of various amines on synthetic zeolite 13X. Various primary and secondary amines namely monoethanolamine (MEA), ethylenediamine (ED) and isopropanol amine (IPA) have been immobilized on zeolite 13X. Quantitative estimations of the amine loadings were undertaken using different analytical techniques namely titrimetric, total organic carbon and gas chromatography analysis. Fairly good correlation was obtained for amine loadings estimated using the three techniques. Effect of various parameters like effect of solvent, shaking time, synthesis temperature, and wetting of pellets prior to amine loadings was also studied. The results revealed that maximum loading was achieved for methanol-mediated synthesis conducted using previously wetted pellets at room temperature and with 15 min of shaking time. Preliminary attempts have also been made to determine the CO2 adsorption capacities of these newly developed materials. The adsorption capacities obtained were 16.01 mg/g for unmodified zeolite 13X and 19.98, and 22.78 mg/g for zeolite modified with monoethanol amine, and isopropanol amine. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.