Amine/thiol functionalized mesoporous polydivinylbenzene for CO2 adsorption

Adsorbents of mesoporous polymeric networks of divinylbenzene (PDVB) with different functionalities were synthesized by simple hydrothermal treatment of divinylbenzene (DVB) with co-monomers of vinylimidazole (VI) and 3-((3-(cyclohexylamino) propyl) thio) propyl methacrylate (ACAM) which resulted in P(DVB-VI) and P(DVB-ACAM) respectively. The CO2 adsorptive properties of PDVB were compared with the functionalized polymers. Although incorporation of ACAM monomer leads to loss of surface area, the functional groups of amine, thiol, and ester on P(DVB-ACAM) provide favorable sites for CO2 molecules to be adsorbed more efficiently in comparison with non-functionalized PDVB. The amine/thiol functionalized adsorbent, P(DVB-ACAM), also showed high selectivity and regenerability with the heat of adsorption of >70 kJ/mol indicating chemical interactions of active sites with CO2 at low adsorption limit and physical adsorption at higher adsorptions. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.