# Microwave Synthesis of MCM-41 and Its Application in CO2 Absorption by Nanofluids

Authors: Shang-Yuan Cheng; You-Zhi Liu; Gui-Sheng Qi
Journal: Journal of Nanomaterials
 (2020)

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## Abstract

Microwave synthesis method is a green chemical process with mild reaction conditions, fast reaction, and low energy consumption. In this work, an order mesoporous silica material MCM-41 was synthesized by microwave technology. Functionalized MCM-41 was prepared by wet impregnation with polyethyleneimine (PEI). XRD, SEM, TEM, DLS, N2 adsorption-desorption, FTIR, and TG were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of samples. Furthermore, CO2 absorption performance in water in the presence of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41 nanoparticles was evaluated. In addition, the mechanisms of enhanced absorption were also elaborated. The experimental results indicated that the optimum conditions for preparation of MCM-41 were the microwave time of 15 min, microwave temperature of 100°C, and microwave power of 200 W. Under this condition, MCM-41 with narrow particle size distribution, average diameter of 50 nm, and SBET of 1210.3 m2g-1 was obtained. The enhancement effect of PEI-MCM-41 nanoparticles was more obvious than that of uncalcined MCM-41. PEI-MCM-41 as a promoter not only increased the CO2 diffusion rate but also enhanced the adsorption capacity due to the fact that it owns more active sites that may react with CO2. The CO2 absorption improvement of PEI-MCM-41 (0.1 wt%)/H2O was 25.35% higher than that of water.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

With the intensification of the industrialization process in the world, the burning of fossil fuels is increasing, which rapidly increases the content of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases will directly contribute to global warming, which may lead to a series of serious consequences such as rising sea levels, ocean acidification, dramatic climate change, and ecosystem disorder [1]. Among these gases, CO2 contributes about 60% to global warming [2]. According to the Global Carbon Project (GCP), global annual CO2 emissions reached a record high of 37.1 billion tons by 2018 [3]. Therefore, carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) is the focus of current researches [4–6]. CO2 capture is the first step of CCS, mainly including liquid phase absorption method [7–9], solid phase adsorption method [10–12], cryogenic method [13–15], and membrane separation method [16–18]. Among the different methods, liquid phase absorption is widely used in CO2 absorption. In this process, the gas-liquid mass transfer effect plays an important role. Further strengthening the mass transfer between gas and liquid can not only improve the CO2 removal rate but also reduce operating costs and equipment volume.Many studies have found that adding nanoparticles to the solvents to obtain nanofluids can effectively improve the gas-liquid mass transfer rate and enhance the absorption process [19–21]. It is a new type of gas-liquid mass transfer enhancement technology that has emerged in recent years. Initially, nanofluids have a wide range of applications in the field of heat transfer due to its ability to reduce heat transfer resistance and enhance the heat transfer coefficient [22, 23]. Due to the similarity between mass transfer and heat transfer, more and more scholars have realized that nanofluids also have great application potential in enhancing mass transfer. Li and Zou [24] synthesized functionalized β-CD-TiO2-Ag nanoparticles and added them in ionic liquids (IL) to test the desulfurization of simulation the gasoline. The results showed that the order of desulfurization efficiency was pure ILs<TiO2/ILs<β-CD-TiO2-Ag/ILs. The sulfur content of the simulated oil in the sample of β-CD-TiO2-Ag/ILs (0.5 vol%) was 0 ppm, while that of TiO2/ILs (0.5 vol%) was 425.62 ppm.Mesoporous nanomaterial such as MCM-41 (Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41) is a suitable nanoparticle additive due to its uniform pore size, large specific surface area, and easy modification of hydroxyl groups. Amine-functionalized adsorbents can increase the ability to adsorb CO2. However, MCM-41 is usually synthesized by a conventional hydrothermal method, which consumes energy and time [25]. In order to reduce the energy consumption of MCM-41 synthesis, microwave is applied as an alternative heat source. The microwave synthesis has the characteristics of rapid heating, uniformity, and strong penetrability, which can promote the effective combination of silicon species and surfactants at the interface and rapidly nucleate during crystallization. Therefore, this method can greatly shorten the crystallization time, reduce the energy consumption, and obtain uniform fine particles.Of note, the CO2 absorption enhanced by MCM-41 nanoparticles has rarely been reported. Among amine compounds, branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) can effectively bind CO2 due to its high amine density and accessible primary amine sites at the chain ends. In this work, MCM-41 was synthesized by microwave technology and then modified with PEI. The effects of different microwave conditions on MCM-41 were elucidated minutely in this paper to obtain the optimum conditions. Furthermore, CO2 absorption performance by MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41 nanoparticles in water was evaluated in the bubbling reactor. In addition, the mechanism for the enhancement of mass transfer was also discussed in detail.


## 2. Experimental

### 2.1. Materials

The following chemical reagents were used in the syntheses: tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, 40% in water), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), polyethyleneimine (PEI, average molecular weight of 600), and anhydrous methanol. All chemicals were used as received without any further purification.


### 2.2. Synthesis of MCM-41 by Microwave Synthesis Method

The synthesis of MCM-41 was based on the method reported by Misran et al. [26]. Figure 1 illustrates the procedure for the synthesis of MCM-41. Primarily, 1.275 g CTAB was dissolved in 100 ml deionized water at room temperature. Under vigorous stirring, 2.708 g TEOS was tardily added to the solution and the mixed solution was incessantly stirred for 2 h. The pH of the mixture was adjusted to 10.8 by 2 M NaOH solution. After that, the obtained gel was placed in an 80 ml microwave vessel and heated under certain conditions. The resulted white solid was centrifuged at high speed, washed with distilled water, dried in air overnight, and calcined at 500°C for 5 h. The prepared samples were labeled as WH-XY (X indicates the factor affecting microwave synthesis, and Y represents the specific value of the factor). For example, WH-T100 denotes the MCM-41sample synthesized a under microwave temperature at 100°C.Figure 1
Schematic diagram of synthesis of MCM-41 by the microwave synthesis method.


### 2.3. Synthesis of PEI-MCM-41

Functionalized MCM-41 was prepared by wet impregnation adapted from other research groups. Accordingly, 0.43 g of PEI was dissolved in 8 g of methanol under mechanically stirring for 15 min. Then, 1 g of uncalcined MCM-41 powder was added into the mixture under stirring for 24 h. The reaction process was protected by nitrogen. The functionalized MCM-41 was dried at 70°C in a vacuum oven for 12 h. Subsequently, the resulting sample was identified as PEI-MCM-41.


### 2.4. Preparation of Nanofluids

Nanofluids were prepared by a two-step method. Primarily, a certain amount of nanoparticles (uncalcined MCM-41 or PEI-MCM-41) was added to distilled water and mechanically stirred for 15 min. Then, the suspension was dispersed in an ultrasonic bath at 30°C for 60 min. Batch-type vibration method with a six-second interval after vibration for four seconds was adopted to avoid dramatical rise of solution temperature. Zeta potential was used to quantify the stability of colloid dispersion. It is widely accepted that nanofluids with zeta potential (positive or negative) of more than 25 mV are physically stable.


### 2.5. Experimental Setup of CO2 Absorption by Nanofluids

Figure2 shows the schematic diagram of the experimental setup for CO2 absorption process. The bubbling reactor made of plexiglass has a height of 257 mm and a diameter of 180 mm. And a gas diffuser (10 μm pores) was mounted at the bottom of the reactor. The temperature was controlled by water bath. In all experiments, the bubble reactor was filled with 180 ml of the absorbents. The initial CO2 concentration was maintained at 10 vol% while the volumetric flow rate was fixed at 100 ml/min. After absorption, the outlet gas entered a dry tube to remove the water vapor. The CO2 concentration in the outlet gas stream was measured every 3 s over a period of 600 s by the online infrared flue gas analyzer (GXH-3011N). Obviously, the amount of nitrogen is constant before and after CO2 absorption (Equation (1)).
(1)Qin1−cin=Qout1−cout,where Qin and Qout are the inlet and outlet gas volume flow rate and cin and cout are the initial and residual CO2 volume fractions. The real-time absorbed CO2 volume per 3 s can be calculated by Equation (2).
(2)ΔVCO2=ΔQ=Qin−Qoutcin−cout1−cout.Figure 2
Schematic diagram of CO2 absorption experimental setup: 1, CO2 cylinder; 3, N2 cylinder; 2, 4, and 7, gas flow meter; 5, buffer tank; 6, valve; 8 and 11, CO2 analyzer; 9, bubble reactor; 10, dry tube; 12, water bath.The total volume of CO2 absorbed within 600 s is the summation of every real-time absorbed CO2 volume (Equation (3)).
(3)VCO2=∑t=1600ΔVCO2.The enhancement percentage was calculated by the following equation:(4)Enhancement%=VabsorbedCO2bynanofluid−VabsorbedCO2bywaterVabsorbedCO2bywater.


### 2.6. Characterization

The phase analysis of samples was verified using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD, D8 ADVANCE A25) with Cu Kα radiation (1.5418 Å) over the scanning range 2θ=1°−8° for small-angle XRD. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of samples were obtained by using Spectrum Two. Dynamic light scattering (DLS, Zetasizer Nano ZS) was adopted to estimate the particle size distribution of samples and the stability of nanofluids. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM, JSM-7900F) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM, JEOL JEM-6490LV) were used to study the structure, size, and morphology of the samples. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms were determined in a Micromeritics Tristar-3020 porosimeter. Textural properties were measured using BET and BJH methods. The samples were degassed at 200°C for 6 h before the surface area measurements. The thermal stability and the amount of amine loading of samples were determined by a STA449F3 thermogravimetric analyzer.


## 2.1. Materials

The following chemical reagents were used in the syntheses: tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, 40% in water), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), polyethyleneimine (PEI, average molecular weight of 600), and anhydrous methanol. All chemicals were used as received without any further purification.


## 2.2. Synthesis of MCM-41 by Microwave Synthesis Method

The synthesis of MCM-41 was based on the method reported by Misran et al. [26]. Figure 1 illustrates the procedure for the synthesis of MCM-41. Primarily, 1.275 g CTAB was dissolved in 100 ml deionized water at room temperature. Under vigorous stirring, 2.708 g TEOS was tardily added to the solution and the mixed solution was incessantly stirred for 2 h. The pH of the mixture was adjusted to 10.8 by 2 M NaOH solution. After that, the obtained gel was placed in an 80 ml microwave vessel and heated under certain conditions. The resulted white solid was centrifuged at high speed, washed with distilled water, dried in air overnight, and calcined at 500°C for 5 h. The prepared samples were labeled as WH-XY (X indicates the factor affecting microwave synthesis, and Y represents the specific value of the factor). For example, WH-T100 denotes the MCM-41sample synthesized a under microwave temperature at 100°C.Figure 1
Schematic diagram of synthesis of MCM-41 by the microwave synthesis method.


## 2.3. Synthesis of PEI-MCM-41

Functionalized MCM-41 was prepared by wet impregnation adapted from other research groups. Accordingly, 0.43 g of PEI was dissolved in 8 g of methanol under mechanically stirring for 15 min. Then, 1 g of uncalcined MCM-41 powder was added into the mixture under stirring for 24 h. The reaction process was protected by nitrogen. The functionalized MCM-41 was dried at 70°C in a vacuum oven for 12 h. Subsequently, the resulting sample was identified as PEI-MCM-41.


## 2.4. Preparation of Nanofluids

Nanofluids were prepared by a two-step method. Primarily, a certain amount of nanoparticles (uncalcined MCM-41 or PEI-MCM-41) was added to distilled water and mechanically stirred for 15 min. Then, the suspension was dispersed in an ultrasonic bath at 30°C for 60 min. Batch-type vibration method with a six-second interval after vibration for four seconds was adopted to avoid dramatical rise of solution temperature. Zeta potential was used to quantify the stability of colloid dispersion. It is widely accepted that nanofluids with zeta potential (positive or negative) of more than 25 mV are physically stable.


## 2.5. Experimental Setup of CO2 Absorption by Nanofluids

Figure2 shows the schematic diagram of the experimental setup for CO2 absorption process. The bubbling reactor made of plexiglass has a height of 257 mm and a diameter of 180 mm. And a gas diffuser (10 μm pores) was mounted at the bottom of the reactor. The temperature was controlled by water bath. In all experiments, the bubble reactor was filled with 180 ml of the absorbents. The initial CO2 concentration was maintained at 10 vol% while the volumetric flow rate was fixed at 100 ml/min. After absorption, the outlet gas entered a dry tube to remove the water vapor. The CO2 concentration in the outlet gas stream was measured every 3 s over a period of 600 s by the online infrared flue gas analyzer (GXH-3011N). Obviously, the amount of nitrogen is constant before and after CO2 absorption (Equation (1)).
(1)Qin1−cin=Qout1−cout,where Qin and Qout are the inlet and outlet gas volume flow rate and cin and cout are the initial and residual CO2 volume fractions. The real-time absorbed CO2 volume per 3 s can be calculated by Equation (2).
(2)ΔVCO2=ΔQ=Qin−Qoutcin−cout1−cout.Figure 2
Schematic diagram of CO2 absorption experimental setup: 1, CO2 cylinder; 3, N2 cylinder; 2, 4, and 7, gas flow meter; 5, buffer tank; 6, valve; 8 and 11, CO2 analyzer; 9, bubble reactor; 10, dry tube; 12, water bath.The total volume of CO2 absorbed within 600 s is the summation of every real-time absorbed CO2 volume (Equation (3)).
(3)VCO2=∑t=1600ΔVCO2.The enhancement percentage was calculated by the following equation:(4)Enhancement%=VabsorbedCO2bynanofluid−VabsorbedCO2bywaterVabsorbedCO2bywater.


## 2.6. Characterization

The phase analysis of samples was verified using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD, D8 ADVANCE A25) with Cu Kα radiation (1.5418 Å) over the scanning range 2θ=1°−8° for small-angle XRD. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of samples were obtained by using Spectrum Two. Dynamic light scattering (DLS, Zetasizer Nano ZS) was adopted to estimate the particle size distribution of samples and the stability of nanofluids. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM, JSM-7900F) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM, JEOL JEM-6490LV) were used to study the structure, size, and morphology of the samples. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms were determined in a Micromeritics Tristar-3020 porosimeter. Textural properties were measured using BET and BJH methods. The samples were degassed at 200°C for 6 h before the surface area measurements. The thermal stability and the amount of amine loading of samples were determined by a STA449F3 thermogravimetric analyzer.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. Effect of Different Microwave Conditions

The small-angle XRD patterns of samples under different microwave conditions are shown in Figure3. All samples showed a well-defined diffraction peak around 2θ=2.3° and two weak peaks at a slightly larger diffraction angle. They accordingly correspond to the (100), (110), and (200) characteristic diffraction peaks of a hexagonal unit cell [27]. The patterns illustrated the reflection of a typical MCM-41type material. Furthermore, the (100) diffraction peak indicates that the sample has a hexagonal pore structure, and the (110) and (200) diffraction peaks indicate that the pores are long-range ordered [28]. With the increase of microwave power, temperature, and time, the diffraction peak intensity was correspondingly enhanced, and the phenomenon of offset occurred. This indicated that different synthesis conditions had effects on the mesoporous structure. In agreement with Kamarudin et al.’s results [29], Ergün et al. [30] also observed the phenomenon of diffraction peak deviation. According to the Bragg law (Formula (5)), the (100) interplanar spacing (d100) could be calculated. The lattice parameter (a0) representing the distance between centers of two adjacent pores was evaluated from Formula (6) [31]. The corresponding pore wall thickness (δ) was calculated by Formula (7) [32]. The calculation results are listed in Table 1. It can be seen that the pore wall thickness was thinner when microwave power and temperature were larger. The pore wall thickness increases first and then decreases with the increase of microwave time. The main reason is that the thickness of the pore wall is highly dependent on microwave energy. Under high power and temperature conditions, the reaction rate is fast. So the wall condensation is rapid, resulting in thin pore wall. The shorter microwave time is not enough to trigger the formation of an ordered structure. Continuous microwave action promotes the growth of the silicon skeleton, improves the order of the skeleton, and makes the formed pore walls denser. But too long microwave time results in decomposition of the already formed structure. This behavior is common for the conventional hydrothermal method.
(5)d100=λ2sinθ,(6)a=2d1003,(7)δ=a−0.95Dpore.Figure 3
The small-angle XRD patterns of samples obtained under different microwave conditions.Table 1
Properties of MCM-41 synthesized at different microwave conditions.
Sample
Different parameters
SBETa (m2g-1)
Vb (cm3g-1)
Dc (nm)
d100 (Å)
a0 (Å)
δ (Å)
Factor
Value
WH-t0
Microwave time (min)
0
518.1
0.663
3.027
37.77
43.61
—
WH-t5
5
1158.3
1.069
3.815
38.11
44.01
7.77
WH-t15
15
1210.3
1.224
3.825
38.41
44.35
8.01
WH-t30
30
1115.6
1.088
3.821
38.75
44.74
8.44
WH-t60
60
1102.0
1.149
3.815
39.26
45.33
9.09
WH-t90
90
1095.1
1.199
3.824
39.26
45.33
9.00
WH-t120
120
1053.5
1.146
3.815
38.92
44.94
8.70
WH-T80
Microwave temperature (°C)
80
1164.7
0.976
3.820
38.99
45.02
8.73
WH-T90
90
1180.1
0.991
3.823
38.61
44.58
8.26
WH-T100
100
1210.3
1.224
3.825
38.41
44.35
8.01
WH-T110
110
1200.3
1.214
3.824
37.55
43.36
7.03
WH-T120
120
903.3
0.939
3.813
36.72
42.40
6.18
WH-P50
Microwave power (W)
50
928.1
0.954
3.806
39.00
45.03
8.87
WH-P100
100
997.1
0.942
3.812
39.16
45.22
9.01
WH-P150
150
1188.4
1.195
3.821
38.76
44.76
8.46
WH-P200
200
1210.3
1.224
3.825
38.41
44.35
8.01
WH-P250
250
1182.3
1.222
3.814
37.55
43.36
7.13
WH-P300
300
937.2
0.960
3.805
36.58
42.34
6.19
aBET method. bt-plot method. cMean pore width was determined using the BJH method.Figure4 shows the nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples. The curves of the sample prepared without microwave heating exhibited a type II isotherm with the lowest specific surface area (Figure 4 (t0)). The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of other samples were similar in shape. According to the IUPA classification, the isotherms had a typical IV curve, which is a characteristic shape for mesoporous materials [33]. Three well-defined stages were identified as follows: (1) at a low relative pressure, nitrogen is gradually increased with monolayer/multilayer adsorption on the pore walls; (2) under relative pressure from 0.25 to 0.4, the amount of nitrogen adsorption rises sharply due to the capillary condensation of nitrogen in the mesoporous structure; and (3) the presence of a narrow hysteresis loop when the relative pressure is greater than 0.4 indicates that the samples are mesoporous materials with uniform cylindrical channels. At higher relative pressure, multilayer adsorption occurs on the external surface of the samples. It can be seen from Table 1 that as microwave power increases, SBET, D, and V all show a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The best sample was obtained at the microwave power of 200 W. This would be due to that the increase of microwave power enhanced the hydration degree of CTAB chain to some extent and its interaction with the silicon species in solution. At the same time, the hydrolysis and polymerization rate of TEOS was accelerated to form MCM-41 with a better pore structure [29]. However, since the microwave heating process was instantaneous, excessive microwave power might cause local overheating, resulting in differences in silica accumulation. Finally, there were differences in SBET and V. With the increase of microwave temperature, SBET, D, and V all increased first and then decreased. The best sample was obtained when microwave temperature was 100°C. The key step in achieving rapid synthesis of mesoporous silica is to control the condensation of silica to form Si-O-Si siloxane bridges. It is a highly active kinetic process which is primarily affected by temperature [30]. At low temperatures, inferior condensation rate was not conducive to the formation of stable silicate frameworks. Increasing the microwave temperature increased the collision frequency of reactants. It accelerated interface self-assembly and condensation process, which can easily form an ordered structure. However, if the temperature was too high, the formed structure would be partially decomposed. The formation of “hot spots” during a shorter radiation time did not provide uniform heating and was not sufficient to induce a better ordered structure. Nevertheless, sustained microwave action may cause a metastable precursor to collapse into denser amorphous phases in the reaction solution. The optimum microwave time was 15 min. Compared to the traditional hydrothermal synthesis method (1~3 days) [34], the synthesis time is greatly shortened.Figure 4
N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples obtained under different microwave conditions.The effect of operating parameters on the particle size distribution of samples is shown in Figure5. When the microwave time, temperature, and power were 15 min, 100°C, and 200 W, respectively, the particle size distribution of the sample was the narrowest and the peak particle size was the smallest. The particle size of samples depends on the nucleation rate and growth rate [29]. Increasing microwave power and temperature will accelerate the crystallization rate and nucleation rate, which can easily produce samples with small particle size and uniform distribution. However, as the microwave time prolongs, the aggregation of silicon species on the surface of the coated micelle increases, the sample continues to grow, and the particle size gradually becomes larger. It means that appropriate microwave radiation can facilitate forming small particles.Figure 5
The particle size distribution of samples at different microwave conditions.Therefore, the optimum parameters for synthesis of MCM-41 through microwave can be determined by the textural properties and the particle size distribution. It is found that the suitable synthesis can be achieved at a microwave time of 15 min, microwave temperature of 100°C, and microwave power of 200 W. As evident from the SEM image (Figures6(a) and 6(b)), the sample synthesized by the microwave synthesis method has a uniform morphology and shows a spheroidal shape with the average particle size about 50 nm. The distribution measured through the DLS method was larger than the particle size measured by SEM. This would be attributed to the fact that the water molecules are on the surface of the nanoparticles [35]. As can be seen from the TEM image (Figures 6(c) and 6(d)), the WH-T100 sample has highly ordered regular channels in the vertical direction. This is the long-range structure of a MCM-41 one-dimensional channel. The mesoporous channel section can be seen as a regular hexagon in the direction of the channel. It is further proved that MCM-41 prepared by microwave has a good mesoporous structure.Figure 6
SEM (a, b) and TEM images (c, d) of WH-T100 sample. (e) Schematic diagram of the basic structure of the two-dimensional hexagonal MCM-41.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)Overall, the microwave synthesis method can rapidly prepare MCM-41 with large specific surface area (1210.3 m2 g-1), small particle size (50 nm), and uniform distribution. The mesoscopic structure of MCM-41 is the result of cooperation and coassembly of inorganic species and organic surfactant molecules, that is, the “cooperative formation mechanism.” As shown in Figure 7, during the synthesis of MCM-41, TEOS is hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions to produce oligomeric silicate anions. Silicate anions (I-) interact with a cationic surfactant (S+) through electrostatic coulomb force, causing inorganic silicon species to polymerize and crosslink in the interface region. It changes the charge density of the inorganic layer, makes the long chain of the surfactant close to each other, and finally gets the orderly mesoscopic structure with the tightest accumulation of energy (S+I- action). Microwave enhances the Brownian motion and rotational dynamics of water molecules. In the case of rotational motion, more hydrogen bonds of water molecules are broken, producing active water molecules. Since the lone pair electrons and OH groups of the active water molecules can prevent the gel binding, the active water molecules have a higher ability to dissolve the gel [36]. Therefore, microwave can promote the dissolution and recrystallization of the precursor and accelerate the crystallization rate. It results in rapid uniform nucleation.Figure 7
Schematic diagram of cooperative formation mechanism.


### 3.2. Characterization of PEI-MCM-41

The FTIR spectrum of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41 is shown in Figure8. The broad absorption band observed at 3765-3355 cm-1 was caused by the stretching of the framework Si-OH group and physically adsorbed water molecules (Figure 8(a)). Several absorption bands were observed at around 1030-1240 cm-1 in all samples which can be assigned to the Si-O-Si stretching. Uncalcined MCM-41 sample contained bands at 2850 cm-1 and 2930 cm-1 which are assigned to the C-H stretching [30]. After modification, the bands became stronger at 2850 cm-1 and 2930 cm-1 corresponding to the methyl C-H bond. The features at 1468 cm-1 and 1553-1646 cm-1 could be divided into –NH2 bending and symmetric bending of NH3+ in the silica samples doping by PEI [37].Figure 8
FTIR spectra of (a) uncalcined MCM-41 and (b) PEI-MCM-41.As can be seen from the comparison of N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (Figure 9(a)), since the impregnating agent occupied a large amount of pore space, SBET and V of PEI-MCM-41 sharply reduced. Figure 9(b) shows TG thermograms of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41. The first weight loss peak appeared at 100°C corresponding to the physically adsorbed water and CO2 in the air. In the second stage, the weight loss of uncalcined MCM-41 was 39.78%, which was caused by the decomposition of the surfactant. For MCM-41, 63.43% weight loss of the second stage was attributed to the decomposition of surfactant and impregnating agent. This indicated that the actual PEI load was 23.65%.Figure 9
N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (a) and TG thermograms (b) of samples.
(a)
(b)


### 3.3. CO2 Absorption in Pure Water and the Nanofluids

Figure10 shows the enhancement percentage at different PEI-MCM-41 and uncalcined MCM-41 solid loading. The results implied that CO2 capture increased as the solid loading increased, and it showed a downward trend beyond 0.1 wt%. Namely, the optimum solid loading exists for the CO2 capture enhancement. In lower nanoparticle concentrations, increasing solid loading can promote the microconvection in liquid and give higher amounts of available sites for reacting with CO2, which is conductive to mass transfer. However, too dense particles are prone to problems such as particle agglomeration and uneven dispersion, resulting in a decline in the Brownian motion. It hinders the interaction between particles and decreases the mass diffusion, leading to a negative effect on CO2 capture. It was in agreement with Arshadi et al.’s result [38]. Based on these findings, we used 0.1 wt% as the optimal solid loading.Figure 10
Variations in the CO2 absorption enhancement percentage with the solid loading.High-stable nanofluids can form high surface charge densities to provide sufficient repulsive forces. Zeta potential was utilized to quantify the stability of colloid dispersion. It is widely accepted that nanofluids with a zeta potential (positive or negative) more than 25 mV are physically stable [39]. The results of zeta potential of the two types of synthesized nanofluids are shown in Figure 11. The absolute values of -41.7 mV and -41.1 mV were relatively high, which demonstrated the stable nanofluids.Figure 11
The zeta potential of the synthesized nanofluids.Figure12(a) shows the absorption efficiency of CO2 capture with time for pure water and nanoparticle suspensions of 0.1 wt% uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41. The temperature was kept constant at room temperature during all experiments. Adding nanoparticles to the water markedly raised the adsorption capacity of the fluid system towards CO2. The porous structure MCM-41 has an open structure and large specific surface area, with strong adsorption capacity. At the same update frequency, MCM-41 has higher mass transfer to CO2 [40]. As seen in Figure 12(c), the water/air contact angles of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41 were 32° and 53°, respectively. When the contact angle is less than 90°, the solid is hydrophilic, and the smaller the contact angle, the stronger the hydrophilicity [41]. Therefore, the two types of nanoparticles were all hydrophilic. However, when modified with PEI, the surface hydrophilicity of the MCM-41 decreased. In the case of low particle concentration, low hydrophilicity was beneficial to the adsorption of solute by providing more opportunities for particles to be in contact with CO2. Moreover, PEI-MCM-41 has more active sites that may react with CO2 and larger gas absorption capacity. It not only improves the CO2 diffusion rate but also enhances the adsorption capacity. The CO2 absorption improvement of PEI-MCM-41/H2O was 25.35% higher than that of water (Figure 12(b)).Figure 12
(a) Output CO2 concentration as a function of time, (b) CO2 absorption improvement of various nanoparticles in water, and (c) water wettability of the prepared nanoparticles in air.
(a)
(b)
(c)The specific enhancement mechanism is still unclear, but on the basis of previous studies, this paper summarized the possible mechanisms of absorption performance enhancement (Figure13). Figure 13(a) shows the absorption mechanism of hydrodynamic effect, which is also called the boundary layer mixing mechanism. The presence of nanoparticles changes the hydrodynamic properties of the surrounding fluid. The nanoparticles collide at the gas-liquid interface inducing local turbulence, reducing the thickness of the mass transfer membrane and refreshing the gas-liquid boundary layer. Figure 13(b) shows the absorption mechanism of grazing effect, which is called the transmission mechanism. Since the size of nanoparticles is smaller than the thickness of the mass transfer membrane, the nanoparticles can penetrate the membrane and transport a certain amount of gas into the liquid bulk. Figure 13(c) shows the absorption mechanism of preventing bubble coalescence which states that the nanoparticles can easily adhere to the bubble surface. Due to the addition of nanoparticles, the movement of liquid becomes more dynamic. The collision between the nanoparticles and the gas-liquid interface caused the bubbles to be broken into small bubbles. Furthermore, nanoparticles strengthen bubble stiffness, reduce bubble coalescence speed, and increase the gas-liquid interface area. The mass transfer process in the bubbling reactor is accompanied by the bubble rising and growing, which undergoes a constantly changing gas-liquid interface area. During the CO2 bubble absorption process, uncalcined MCM-41 or PEI-MCM-41 collide with the gas-liquid interface and each other under the action of Brownian motion, breaking up bubbles in the fluid into smaller bubbles [38]. At the same time, nanoparticles adhere to the surface of bubbles, reducing bubble collision and the rate of bubble coalescence. These two behaviors effectively increase the phase interface area, reduce the mass transfer resistance, and promote the diffusion of CO2 into the water. In addition, the presence of particles increases the degree of microdisturbance and turbulence of the boundary layer; these results in redistribution of the liquid film, acceleration of the liquid film surface renewal rate, and the exchange of substances in the membrane [42]. The mass transfer effect is enhanced to some extent. Even if the particle concentration is small, the flow fields around the nanoparticles also interact. Furthermore, PEI-MCM-41 as a promoter features amine functional sites that can chemically interact with CO2 and exhibits the higher gas absorption.Figure 13
Schematic diagram of absorption mechanisms.


## 3.1. Effect of Different Microwave Conditions

The small-angle XRD patterns of samples under different microwave conditions are shown in Figure3. All samples showed a well-defined diffraction peak around 2θ=2.3° and two weak peaks at a slightly larger diffraction angle. They accordingly correspond to the (100), (110), and (200) characteristic diffraction peaks of a hexagonal unit cell [27]. The patterns illustrated the reflection of a typical MCM-41type material. Furthermore, the (100) diffraction peak indicates that the sample has a hexagonal pore structure, and the (110) and (200) diffraction peaks indicate that the pores are long-range ordered [28]. With the increase of microwave power, temperature, and time, the diffraction peak intensity was correspondingly enhanced, and the phenomenon of offset occurred. This indicated that different synthesis conditions had effects on the mesoporous structure. In agreement with Kamarudin et al.’s results [29], Ergün et al. [30] also observed the phenomenon of diffraction peak deviation. According to the Bragg law (Formula (5)), the (100) interplanar spacing (d100) could be calculated. The lattice parameter (a0) representing the distance between centers of two adjacent pores was evaluated from Formula (6) [31]. The corresponding pore wall thickness (δ) was calculated by Formula (7) [32]. The calculation results are listed in Table 1. It can be seen that the pore wall thickness was thinner when microwave power and temperature were larger. The pore wall thickness increases first and then decreases with the increase of microwave time. The main reason is that the thickness of the pore wall is highly dependent on microwave energy. Under high power and temperature conditions, the reaction rate is fast. So the wall condensation is rapid, resulting in thin pore wall. The shorter microwave time is not enough to trigger the formation of an ordered structure. Continuous microwave action promotes the growth of the silicon skeleton, improves the order of the skeleton, and makes the formed pore walls denser. But too long microwave time results in decomposition of the already formed structure. This behavior is common for the conventional hydrothermal method.
(5)d100=λ2sinθ,(6)a=2d1003,(7)δ=a−0.95Dpore.Figure 3
The small-angle XRD patterns of samples obtained under different microwave conditions.Table 1
Properties of MCM-41 synthesized at different microwave conditions.
Sample
Different parameters
SBETa (m2g-1)
Vb (cm3g-1)
Dc (nm)
d100 (Å)
a0 (Å)
δ (Å)
Factor
Value
WH-t0
Microwave time (min)
0
518.1
0.663
3.027
37.77
43.61
—
WH-t5
5
1158.3
1.069
3.815
38.11
44.01
7.77
WH-t15
15
1210.3
1.224
3.825
38.41
44.35
8.01
WH-t30
30
1115.6
1.088
3.821
38.75
44.74
8.44
WH-t60
60
1102.0
1.149
3.815
39.26
45.33
9.09
WH-t90
90
1095.1
1.199
3.824
39.26
45.33
9.00
WH-t120
120
1053.5
1.146
3.815
38.92
44.94
8.70
WH-T80
Microwave temperature (°C)
80
1164.7
0.976
3.820
38.99
45.02
8.73
WH-T90
90
1180.1
0.991
3.823
38.61
44.58
8.26
WH-T100
100
1210.3
1.224
3.825
38.41
44.35
8.01
WH-T110
110
1200.3
1.214
3.824
37.55
43.36
7.03
WH-T120
120
903.3
0.939
3.813
36.72
42.40
6.18
WH-P50
Microwave power (W)
50
928.1
0.954
3.806
39.00
45.03
8.87
WH-P100
100
997.1
0.942
3.812
39.16
45.22
9.01
WH-P150
150
1188.4
1.195
3.821
38.76
44.76
8.46
WH-P200
200
1210.3
1.224
3.825
38.41
44.35
8.01
WH-P250
250
1182.3
1.222
3.814
37.55
43.36
7.13
WH-P300
300
937.2
0.960
3.805
36.58
42.34
6.19
aBET method. bt-plot method. cMean pore width was determined using the BJH method.Figure4 shows the nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples. The curves of the sample prepared without microwave heating exhibited a type II isotherm with the lowest specific surface area (Figure 4 (t0)). The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of other samples were similar in shape. According to the IUPA classification, the isotherms had a typical IV curve, which is a characteristic shape for mesoporous materials [33]. Three well-defined stages were identified as follows: (1) at a low relative pressure, nitrogen is gradually increased with monolayer/multilayer adsorption on the pore walls; (2) under relative pressure from 0.25 to 0.4, the amount of nitrogen adsorption rises sharply due to the capillary condensation of nitrogen in the mesoporous structure; and (3) the presence of a narrow hysteresis loop when the relative pressure is greater than 0.4 indicates that the samples are mesoporous materials with uniform cylindrical channels. At higher relative pressure, multilayer adsorption occurs on the external surface of the samples. It can be seen from Table 1 that as microwave power increases, SBET, D, and V all show a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The best sample was obtained at the microwave power of 200 W. This would be due to that the increase of microwave power enhanced the hydration degree of CTAB chain to some extent and its interaction with the silicon species in solution. At the same time, the hydrolysis and polymerization rate of TEOS was accelerated to form MCM-41 with a better pore structure [29]. However, since the microwave heating process was instantaneous, excessive microwave power might cause local overheating, resulting in differences in silica accumulation. Finally, there were differences in SBET and V. With the increase of microwave temperature, SBET, D, and V all increased first and then decreased. The best sample was obtained when microwave temperature was 100°C. The key step in achieving rapid synthesis of mesoporous silica is to control the condensation of silica to form Si-O-Si siloxane bridges. It is a highly active kinetic process which is primarily affected by temperature [30]. At low temperatures, inferior condensation rate was not conducive to the formation of stable silicate frameworks. Increasing the microwave temperature increased the collision frequency of reactants. It accelerated interface self-assembly and condensation process, which can easily form an ordered structure. However, if the temperature was too high, the formed structure would be partially decomposed. The formation of “hot spots” during a shorter radiation time did not provide uniform heating and was not sufficient to induce a better ordered structure. Nevertheless, sustained microwave action may cause a metastable precursor to collapse into denser amorphous phases in the reaction solution. The optimum microwave time was 15 min. Compared to the traditional hydrothermal synthesis method (1~3 days) [34], the synthesis time is greatly shortened.Figure 4
N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms of samples obtained under different microwave conditions.The effect of operating parameters on the particle size distribution of samples is shown in Figure5. When the microwave time, temperature, and power were 15 min, 100°C, and 200 W, respectively, the particle size distribution of the sample was the narrowest and the peak particle size was the smallest. The particle size of samples depends on the nucleation rate and growth rate [29]. Increasing microwave power and temperature will accelerate the crystallization rate and nucleation rate, which can easily produce samples with small particle size and uniform distribution. However, as the microwave time prolongs, the aggregation of silicon species on the surface of the coated micelle increases, the sample continues to grow, and the particle size gradually becomes larger. It means that appropriate microwave radiation can facilitate forming small particles.Figure 5
The particle size distribution of samples at different microwave conditions.Therefore, the optimum parameters for synthesis of MCM-41 through microwave can be determined by the textural properties and the particle size distribution. It is found that the suitable synthesis can be achieved at a microwave time of 15 min, microwave temperature of 100°C, and microwave power of 200 W. As evident from the SEM image (Figures6(a) and 6(b)), the sample synthesized by the microwave synthesis method has a uniform morphology and shows a spheroidal shape with the average particle size about 50 nm. The distribution measured through the DLS method was larger than the particle size measured by SEM. This would be attributed to the fact that the water molecules are on the surface of the nanoparticles [35]. As can be seen from the TEM image (Figures 6(c) and 6(d)), the WH-T100 sample has highly ordered regular channels in the vertical direction. This is the long-range structure of a MCM-41 one-dimensional channel. The mesoporous channel section can be seen as a regular hexagon in the direction of the channel. It is further proved that MCM-41 prepared by microwave has a good mesoporous structure.Figure 6
SEM (a, b) and TEM images (c, d) of WH-T100 sample. (e) Schematic diagram of the basic structure of the two-dimensional hexagonal MCM-41.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)Overall, the microwave synthesis method can rapidly prepare MCM-41 with large specific surface area (1210.3 m2 g-1), small particle size (50 nm), and uniform distribution. The mesoscopic structure of MCM-41 is the result of cooperation and coassembly of inorganic species and organic surfactant molecules, that is, the “cooperative formation mechanism.” As shown in Figure 7, during the synthesis of MCM-41, TEOS is hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions to produce oligomeric silicate anions. Silicate anions (I-) interact with a cationic surfactant (S+) through electrostatic coulomb force, causing inorganic silicon species to polymerize and crosslink in the interface region. It changes the charge density of the inorganic layer, makes the long chain of the surfactant close to each other, and finally gets the orderly mesoscopic structure with the tightest accumulation of energy (S+I- action). Microwave enhances the Brownian motion and rotational dynamics of water molecules. In the case of rotational motion, more hydrogen bonds of water molecules are broken, producing active water molecules. Since the lone pair electrons and OH groups of the active water molecules can prevent the gel binding, the active water molecules have a higher ability to dissolve the gel [36]. Therefore, microwave can promote the dissolution and recrystallization of the precursor and accelerate the crystallization rate. It results in rapid uniform nucleation.Figure 7
Schematic diagram of cooperative formation mechanism.


## 3.2. Characterization of PEI-MCM-41

The FTIR spectrum of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41 is shown in Figure8. The broad absorption band observed at 3765-3355 cm-1 was caused by the stretching of the framework Si-OH group and physically adsorbed water molecules (Figure 8(a)). Several absorption bands were observed at around 1030-1240 cm-1 in all samples which can be assigned to the Si-O-Si stretching. Uncalcined MCM-41 sample contained bands at 2850 cm-1 and 2930 cm-1 which are assigned to the C-H stretching [30]. After modification, the bands became stronger at 2850 cm-1 and 2930 cm-1 corresponding to the methyl C-H bond. The features at 1468 cm-1 and 1553-1646 cm-1 could be divided into –NH2 bending and symmetric bending of NH3+ in the silica samples doping by PEI [37].Figure 8
FTIR spectra of (a) uncalcined MCM-41 and (b) PEI-MCM-41.As can be seen from the comparison of N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (Figure 9(a)), since the impregnating agent occupied a large amount of pore space, SBET and V of PEI-MCM-41 sharply reduced. Figure 9(b) shows TG thermograms of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41. The first weight loss peak appeared at 100°C corresponding to the physically adsorbed water and CO2 in the air. In the second stage, the weight loss of uncalcined MCM-41 was 39.78%, which was caused by the decomposition of the surfactant. For MCM-41, 63.43% weight loss of the second stage was attributed to the decomposition of surfactant and impregnating agent. This indicated that the actual PEI load was 23.65%.Figure 9
N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (a) and TG thermograms (b) of samples.
(a)
(b)


## 3.3. CO2 Absorption in Pure Water and the Nanofluids

Figure10 shows the enhancement percentage at different PEI-MCM-41 and uncalcined MCM-41 solid loading. The results implied that CO2 capture increased as the solid loading increased, and it showed a downward trend beyond 0.1 wt%. Namely, the optimum solid loading exists for the CO2 capture enhancement. In lower nanoparticle concentrations, increasing solid loading can promote the microconvection in liquid and give higher amounts of available sites for reacting with CO2, which is conductive to mass transfer. However, too dense particles are prone to problems such as particle agglomeration and uneven dispersion, resulting in a decline in the Brownian motion. It hinders the interaction between particles and decreases the mass diffusion, leading to a negative effect on CO2 capture. It was in agreement with Arshadi et al.’s result [38]. Based on these findings, we used 0.1 wt% as the optimal solid loading.Figure 10
Variations in the CO2 absorption enhancement percentage with the solid loading.High-stable nanofluids can form high surface charge densities to provide sufficient repulsive forces. Zeta potential was utilized to quantify the stability of colloid dispersion. It is widely accepted that nanofluids with a zeta potential (positive or negative) more than 25 mV are physically stable [39]. The results of zeta potential of the two types of synthesized nanofluids are shown in Figure 11. The absolute values of -41.7 mV and -41.1 mV were relatively high, which demonstrated the stable nanofluids.Figure 11
The zeta potential of the synthesized nanofluids.Figure12(a) shows the absorption efficiency of CO2 capture with time for pure water and nanoparticle suspensions of 0.1 wt% uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41. The temperature was kept constant at room temperature during all experiments. Adding nanoparticles to the water markedly raised the adsorption capacity of the fluid system towards CO2. The porous structure MCM-41 has an open structure and large specific surface area, with strong adsorption capacity. At the same update frequency, MCM-41 has higher mass transfer to CO2 [40]. As seen in Figure 12(c), the water/air contact angles of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41 were 32° and 53°, respectively. When the contact angle is less than 90°, the solid is hydrophilic, and the smaller the contact angle, the stronger the hydrophilicity [41]. Therefore, the two types of nanoparticles were all hydrophilic. However, when modified with PEI, the surface hydrophilicity of the MCM-41 decreased. In the case of low particle concentration, low hydrophilicity was beneficial to the adsorption of solute by providing more opportunities for particles to be in contact with CO2. Moreover, PEI-MCM-41 has more active sites that may react with CO2 and larger gas absorption capacity. It not only improves the CO2 diffusion rate but also enhances the adsorption capacity. The CO2 absorption improvement of PEI-MCM-41/H2O was 25.35% higher than that of water (Figure 12(b)).Figure 12
(a) Output CO2 concentration as a function of time, (b) CO2 absorption improvement of various nanoparticles in water, and (c) water wettability of the prepared nanoparticles in air.
(a)
(b)
(c)The specific enhancement mechanism is still unclear, but on the basis of previous studies, this paper summarized the possible mechanisms of absorption performance enhancement (Figure13). Figure 13(a) shows the absorption mechanism of hydrodynamic effect, which is also called the boundary layer mixing mechanism. The presence of nanoparticles changes the hydrodynamic properties of the surrounding fluid. The nanoparticles collide at the gas-liquid interface inducing local turbulence, reducing the thickness of the mass transfer membrane and refreshing the gas-liquid boundary layer. Figure 13(b) shows the absorption mechanism of grazing effect, which is called the transmission mechanism. Since the size of nanoparticles is smaller than the thickness of the mass transfer membrane, the nanoparticles can penetrate the membrane and transport a certain amount of gas into the liquid bulk. Figure 13(c) shows the absorption mechanism of preventing bubble coalescence which states that the nanoparticles can easily adhere to the bubble surface. Due to the addition of nanoparticles, the movement of liquid becomes more dynamic. The collision between the nanoparticles and the gas-liquid interface caused the bubbles to be broken into small bubbles. Furthermore, nanoparticles strengthen bubble stiffness, reduce bubble coalescence speed, and increase the gas-liquid interface area. The mass transfer process in the bubbling reactor is accompanied by the bubble rising and growing, which undergoes a constantly changing gas-liquid interface area. During the CO2 bubble absorption process, uncalcined MCM-41 or PEI-MCM-41 collide with the gas-liquid interface and each other under the action of Brownian motion, breaking up bubbles in the fluid into smaller bubbles [38]. At the same time, nanoparticles adhere to the surface of bubbles, reducing bubble collision and the rate of bubble coalescence. These two behaviors effectively increase the phase interface area, reduce the mass transfer resistance, and promote the diffusion of CO2 into the water. In addition, the presence of particles increases the degree of microdisturbance and turbulence of the boundary layer; these results in redistribution of the liquid film, acceleration of the liquid film surface renewal rate, and the exchange of substances in the membrane [42]. The mass transfer effect is enhanced to some extent. Even if the particle concentration is small, the flow fields around the nanoparticles also interact. Furthermore, PEI-MCM-41 as a promoter features amine functional sites that can chemically interact with CO2 and exhibits the higher gas absorption.Figure 13
Schematic diagram of absorption mechanisms.


## 4. Conclusion

In summary, an ordered mesoporous silica material MCM-41 was synthesized by microwave technology. Microwave can promote the dissolution and recrystallization of the precursor and accelerate the crystallization rate. The effects of different microwave conditions on MCM-41 were elucidated minutely in this paper. The optimum conditions for preparation of MCM-41 were the microwave time of 15 min, microwave temperature of 100°C, and microwave power of 200 W. Under this condition, MCM-41 with narrow particle size distribution, average diameter of 50 nm, andSBET of 1210.3 m2g-1 was obtained. Furthermore, the CO2 absorption performance in water-base nanofluids in the presence of two types of nanoparticles of uncalcined MCM-41 and PEI-MCM-41 was evaluated. The enhancement effect of PEI-MCM-41 nanoparticles was more obvious than that of uncalcined MCM-41. The CO2 absorption improvement of uncalcined MCM-41 (0.1 wt%)/H2O was 8.45% higher than that of water. PEI-MCM-41 as a promoter not only increased the CO2 diffusion rate but also enhanced the adsorption capacity due to the fact that it owns more active sites that may react with CO2. The CO2 absorption improvement of PEI-MCM-41 (0.1 wt%)/H2O was 25.35% higher than that of water. MCM-41 has a potential to enhance the mass transfer both before and after modification. However, in the future work, it is necessary to further study the influence of modifier type on absorption effect and the regeneration performance of nanofluid systems.



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*Source: 6187656-2020-04-28.xml*