Optimization of Polyethylene Glycol Concentration on Fly Ash-Derived Mesoporous Silica for CO2 Adsorption from CO2/N2 Gas Mixtures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32493/jitk.v10i2.61500Keywords:
fly ash, mesoporous silica, polyethylene glycol, CO2 adsorption, carbon capture, post-combustionAbstract
Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels has driven the development of efficient carbon capture materials. This study investigates the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) mass fraction on CO2 adsorption performance of fly ash-derived mesoporous silica and evaluates its selectivity under simulated post-combustion conditions. Mesoporous silica was synthesized from coal fly ash via a hydrothermal method using CTABr as a template, followed by impregnation with PEG at five mass fractions: 0%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%. Adsorption performance was assessed using pure CO2 across three consecutive cycles and a 15% CO2/85% N2 gas mixture to simulate flue gas conditions. Breakthrough time increased from 217 s (0% PEG) to 460 s (30% PEG) — a 111.98% improvement. Under post-combustion conditions, adsorption efficiency rose from 7.57% to 30.29%, with a Relative Enhancement Factor (REF) of 4.00 indicating enhanced CO2/N2 selectivity. XRD confirmed preservation of the amorphous silica structure, while SEM-EDX revealed agglomerated particle morphology (1–6 µm) dominated by silicon and oxygen. Based on comprehensive performance evaluation, 30 wt% PEG was identified as the optimum concentration, highlighting its potential as a low-cost adsorbent for industrial CO2 capture.
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