Work

Hydrolyzed Chitin and Chitosan Blends as Reversible and Biocompatible Sorbents for Carbon Dioxide Sorption

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Fossil gases account for more than one-third of all CO2 emissions caused by human activity. Previously, irreversible materials were used to capture CO2. Such sorbents cannot be reused, resulting in an increase in solid waste. For successful carbon sequestration, reversible sorbents are needed, yet very few examples of such sorbents are known. Chitin and Chitosan both have amino- groups with the potential to capture CO2 in an ‘acid-base’ reaction on the surface of the sorbent. In our study, CO2 sorption-desorption data for natural chitosan and its blends with pure and modified polysulfone has shown reversibility of the process and high sorption capacity. Blends show higher sorption capacity than pure chitosan, due to slower swelling in water, and slower loss of sorbent’s surface. Pure chitin derived from shells has a much lower sorption capacity than chitosan due to much higher molecular weight. Hydrolysis is required to convert chitin into an effective sorbent.

Source: Compounds

DOI: 10.3390/compounds5020018

Authors: Preeti United States Sharma, Benjamin Barnes, Raekayla Johnson, Victoria V. V Volkis

Institution: University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Language: English

Topic: Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207