Carboxylic functionalized mesoporous polymers for fast, highly efficient, selective and reversible adsorption of ammonia

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2022-11, Vol.448, p.137640, Article 137640
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jiayin, Ma, Yongde, Wu, Wenquan, Cai, Zhenping, Cao, Yanning, Huang, Kuan, Jiang, Lilong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidic site; Gas separation; Mesoporous material; Solid adsorption; Thermodynamics
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.137640

[Display omitted] •PDVB-xAA samples were synthesized by solvothermal copolymerization of DVB and AA.•PDVB-xAA samples have adjustable mesoporous structure and acidic site concentrations.•PDVB-xAA samples demonstrate fast, highly efficient, and selective adsorption of NH3.•The performance of PDVB-xAA samples is better than most other solid sorbents reported.•The adsorption of NH3 is also highly reversible due to the weak acidity of carboxylic groups. Developing an effective method for separation of NH3 from N2, H2 and CO2 is highly desired not only for the advancement of Haber-Bosch process, but also for protection of the environment. Here, we report synthesis of carboxylic functionalized mesoporous polymers by copolymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) and acrylic acid (AA) through a one-pot solvothermal route. The mesoporous structure and acidic site concentration of these polymers can be adjusted by changing the amounts of monomers used. Such polymers display fast, highly efficient and selective adsorption of NH3 that is better than that of most other solid sorbents in the literature, especially in terms of NH3 adsorption selectivity against N2, H2 and CO2. The adsorption of NH3 by these polymers is also highly reversible, making them promising solid sorbents for production of high-purity NH3.