Carbon Dioxide Capturing by Nitrogen-Doping Microporous Carbon

Nitrogen-containing microprous carbon was successfully synthesized by using phloroglucinol and glutaraldehyde as the carbon source and hydrolyzed silk as the nitrogen source. The porous structures and surface chemical compositions of microporous carbon were analyzed and characterized by nitrogen adsorption isotherms, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrum and scanning electron microscope images. The resultant porous carbons had a microporous structure, and the pore size distribution was 0.7-2.0 nm. Phenolic formaldehyde with silk was pyrolyzed and decomposed to condense a cross-linking structure between 230 and 650 degrees C. The nitrogen-containing groups from silk decomposition were incorporated into a carbon matrix during the carbonization process. The microporous carbon showed good regeneration performance and high adsorption capacities of CO2 due to its nitrogen-containing groups and developed a micropore structure. Under dynamic conditions, CO2 could be finely separated from a mixture of CO2, N-2 and CH4 with microporous carbon, which displayed potential application for CO2 capture.