CO 2 capture performance and characterization of cellulose aerogels synthesized from old corrugated containers.

Old corrugated containers with low recyclability were used as raw materials to synthesize a series of aerogels with varying cellulose concentrations in NaOH/urea solution via a freeze-drying process. The resulting aerogels had a rich porous structure with specific surface areas in the range of 132.72-245.19 m ² .g ^-1 and mesopore volumes in the range of 0.73-1.53 cm ³ .g ^-1 , and were tested for CO ₂ sorption at ambient temperature and pressure, displaying excellent CO ₂ adsorption capacities in the range of 1.96-11.78 mmol.g ^-1 . Furthermore, the CO ₂ /N ₂ selectivity of aerogels decreased with decreasing specific surface area, which was mainly caused by the decrease in CO ₂ capture. In addition, the CO ₂ sorption capacity of the sample with 2% cellulose content, CA-2, exceeded the values reported so far for many other sorbents with higher specific surface areas, and showed reasonable cyclic stability for CO ₂ capture. Therefore, this adsorbent represents an attractive prospect for CO ₂ uptake at room temperature.
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