Nanoporous metal oxide functionalized carbon sorbent for carbon dioxide capture

A nanoporous carbon sorbent was synthesized, functionalized with magnesium oxide (MgO), and demonstrated to be a high-performance CO2 capture adsorbent. Taking advantage of a low cost and scalable preparation method, the unique design of the sorbent fosters strong interactions between the metals and acid moieties in the porous carbon media. The high surface area (2130 m2/g) and nanopores (1-2 nm) of the porous carbon enable a high concentration and uniform distribution of metal oxide throughout the sorbent. CO2 uptake capacity of the sorbent at 400 ppm CO2 was 0.12 mmol CO2/g sorbent, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of the unfunctionalized porous carbon. The CO2 adsorption performance of the MgO functionalized nanoporous carbon at a low partial pressure of CO2 compares favourably with reported CO2 uptake of Mg oxide functionalized porous carbons as well as porous and non-porous metal oxides.