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

A micro porous activated carbon (JAC) was synthesis from Jatropha curcas shell an agricultural waste
by chemical activation using 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 CO2
adsorption capacity.