3D-Printed Adsorbents for CO2 Capture

Abstract

The ‘bottom-up' Additive Manufacturing (AM) is the technology whereby a digitally designed structure is built layer-by-layer, i.e., differently than by traditional manufacturing techniques based on subtractive manufacturing. AM as exemplified by 3D printing has gained significant importance for scientists, among others, in the fields of catalysis and separation. Undoubtedly, it constitutes an enabling pathway by which new complex, promising and innovative structures can be built. According to recent studies, 3D printing technologies have been utilized in enhancing the heat and mass transfer as well as the adsorption capacity and surface area in CO2 adsorption and separation applications as well as catalytic reactions. The primary focus of this research project is to utilize the 3D printing technology in field of separation by fabricating a new novel complex structure to enhance the thermal and mass transfer properties as well as address the issue of the pressure drop and low selectivity of new designed monoliths. The design was done using CAD software then transferred to 3D printer for production of the 3D printed resin structures (matrices). The latter were subjected into different treatments such as amine functionalization, plasma etching in order to enhance the zeolite 13X adhesion on the resin. The final composite specimens were tested for CO2, N2 and H2O gas adsorption. Results shows that the deposition of zeolite 13X following a specific treatment of the resin has higher adsorption capacity for CO2 capturing.

Date of Award	Dec 2020
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Kyriaki Polychronopoulou (Supervisor)