Amine-Grafted Porous Sorbents for Stable CO2 Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid sorbent materials for carbon dioxide capture face challenges such as reduced CO2 adsorption capacity due to interference by polar molecules like water, and they lack fast adsorption kinetics and thermal stability.

Innovation Solution

Development of solid sorbents with amines covalently bonded to a porous support, utilizing amine alkylation and silanization reactions to enhance CO2 adsorption capacity and thermal stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If physisorbent materials are used for CO2 adsorption, then the system is relatively mature and easy to operate, but the CO2 adsorption capacity is significantly reduced due to interference by polar molecules such as water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidCO2 adsorption capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining amine-functionalized porous supports with specific pore structures. The composite consists of a porous support material (such as silica or alumina) functionalized with amine groups, creating a material that exhibits both the structural stability of the support and the selective CO2 adsorption capability of the amine groups, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and CO2 adsorption capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by introducing amine functional groups at specific locations on the porous support surface. The amine groups are grafted onto the porous support to create localized active sites for CO2 chemisorption, while the bulk porous support maintains its structural integrity and porosity. This localized functionalization enables high CO2 selectivity without compromising the overall material stability and operability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If chemisorbent materials are used for CO2 adsorption, then superior selectivity of CO2 adsorption over interfering species is achieved, but thermal and hydrothermal stability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCO2 adsorption selectivityVSAvoidthermal and hydrothermal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes porous materials with controlled pore sizes and structures as the support framework. The porous support provides a stable skeletal structure that resists thermal and hydrothermal degradation, while the pore architecture facilitates mass transfer and maintains structural integrity under cyclic operating conditions, thereby improving the stability of chemisorbent materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite materials where chemically bonded amine groups are integrated into a thermally stable porous support matrix. This composite structure combines the high CO2 selectivity of chemisorbent materials with the thermal and hydrothermal stability of the inorganic porous support, resolving the contradiction between selectivity and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If chemisorbent materials are used for CO2 adsorption, then superior CO2 selectivity is achieved, but adsorption kinetics are slow

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCO2 adsorption selectivityVSAvoidadsorption kinetics
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs porous materials with optimized pore size distributions and high surface areas. The porous structure provides numerous accessible active sites for CO2 adsorption and facilitates rapid mass transfer of CO2 molecules to the amine functional groups, thereby enhancing adsorption kinetics while maintaining high CO2 selectivity through the chemisorption mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The sorbents exhibit high CO2 adsorption capacity and desirable hydrothermal and cycling stability, addressing the limitations of existing materials.

Implementation Method 1

Chemisorbents, in particular, amine functionalized silica particles and metal-organic frameworks (MOF) etc., adsorb CO2 through reversible chemical reactions and formation of ammonium carbamate, carbamic acid, ammonium carbonate and/or ammonium bicarbonate.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemisorption: Chemisorption

Implementation Method 2

reacting the first mixture in a silanization reaction to form a grafted sorbent including the grafter attached to the sorbent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

reacting the second mixture in an amine alkylation reaction to form the functionalized sorbent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP4684874A2Sorbent compositions, systems, and methods
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP4684874A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4684874A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4684874A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described herein are solid sorbents including amines that are covalently bonded to a porous support. The solid sorbents exhibit high adsorption capacities for carbon dioxide. The solid sorbents exhibit desirable hydrothermal and cycling stability.