Antioxidative degradation mechanism of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole modified TEPA-MCM-41 adsorbents for carbon capture from flue gas

Solid amine adsorbents can efficiently adsorb CO2, but a significant problem is that amine groups are oxidized. In this research, tetraethylenepentamine-impregnated MCM-41 adsorbents (TEPA-MCM-41) were functionally modified with sulphur-containing antioxidant 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (described as antioxidant MB) and tns-(2.4-di-tert-butyl)-phosphite (defined as antioxidant 168), respectively. The antioxidative degradation mechanism of 8% MB-50% TEPA-MCM-41 was analyzed by in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (in situ DRIFT) spectrum and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/mass). The CO2 adsorption capacity of 50% TEPA-MCM-41 was 4.30 mmol/g under 15% CO2/85% N-2, but decreased to 1.38 mmol/g after oxidation at 100 degrees C for 42 h under 95% N-2/5% O-2 certain condition. The CO2 capacity of 8% MB-50% TEPA-MCM-41 reduced from 3.90 to 2.86 mmol/g. After 30 adsorption cycles under 5% O-2/15% CO2/80% N-2, the capacity of 8% MB-50% TEPA-MCM-41 also only decreased by 16.8%, while 50% TEPA-MCM-41 decreased by 63.2%. The reason for the excellent antioxidant stability of 8% MB-50% TEPA-MCM-41 is that MB scavenged free radicals from amine oxidation and decomposed the hydroperoxides produced by free radical reactions. The hydroperoxides were decomposed into alcohols (non-radical products), which were eventually oxidized to sulphonic compounds. The MB modification inhibited the oxidative degradation of solid amine adsorbents guided for the production of antioxidant-efficient adsorbents.