An Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Sorbent Nanofiber Membrane and a Device

Category – Air Purification & Filteration, Chemistry & Chemical Analysis.

Applications – Nanofibers, Air Purification & Filteration, CO2 Capture and Sequestration, Indoor Air Quality Improvement, Climate Control Systems

Industry – Environmental Technology, Clean Energy, Indoor Air Quality,

Market – The nanofiber market is projected to reach USD 4.16 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 12.0% from USD 1.68 million in 2022.

Rapid increase in CO2 concentration in enclosed environments causing health risks and discomfort.
Existing CO2 scavenging materials (e.g., amino silica monolith, MOF-177), require regeneration under extreme conditions, making them impractical for commercial feasibility.
Therefore, there is a need for a new sorbent material that can efficiently adsorb CO2 at room temperature and desorb it at near ambient conditions providing a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for maintaining CO2 concentration within acceptable limits in closed spaces.
The objective of this invention is to develop a composite fiber material with excellent CO2 adsorption and desorption properties, enabling the creation of a compact and sustainable device (refer Fig.1) for CO2 removal, ensuring healthy and comfortable living environments.

Invention: Material for air purification, adsorbs CO2 at room temperature and desorbs at near ambient temperature
Fabrication: Nanofiber membrane by electrospinning AEAPTMS/PAN composite with large surface area. (refer Fig. 2)
CO2 Adsorption Capacity: ≥ 0.77 mmol/g at 24°C, fully regenerates at 45°C.
Adsorption Cycle: 120 minutes.
Desorption Cycle: 30 minutes.
Mechanism: FTIR analysis confirms the formation confirms ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate for CO2 adsorption at room temperature, desorbs by decomposing compounds at 55°C, preferably 50°C or lower
Air Purification Integration: Used in device with air purifier, air conditioner, and heater, 40 minutes adsorption and 20 minutes desorption (or 20 minutes adsorption and 10 minutes desorption) and Fig. 4 shows the rate of desorption at different ambient temperature.

The composite material N-[3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl]ethylenediamine (AEAPTMS) functionalized polyacrylonitrile (PAN/AEAPTMS) shows a CO2 adsorption capacity of 0.77 mmol/g at an ambient condition of 70% relative humidity, 24°C temperature, and 3400 ppm CO2 concentration.
The nanofiber material exhibits 100% cycling capacity over three adsorption-desorption cycles. It shows an average of 0.347 mmol/g CO2 adsorption capacity for the initial 30 minutes of the adsorption cycle and 100% desorption capacity when heated to 50°C. (refer Fig. 3, 5)
Optimal Nanofiber Diameter – The membrane’s nanofiber diameter falls within the range of 1μm to 0.1μm, which is ideal for efficient CO2 adsorption.
Complete regeneration of adsorbent material at 50°C.
Fabrication Flexibility: The nanofiber membrane can be fabricated using different techniques like melt spinning, melt electrospinning, or electrospinning.

Prof. Pradeep .T

Department of Chemistry

TRL – 4

Technology validated in lab.

Technology Transfer