Regenerable CO2 sorbents based on potassium carbonate and carbon nanotubes

The development of efficient CO2 capture methods is crucial both for solving the problem of decarbonization and for maintaining the air composition in closed life support systems. Regenerable K2CO3-based sorbents provide reversible CO2 sorption. However, their efficient operation requires the use of porous carriers that ensure the dispersion of the active component and increase the sorption rate. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a promising carrier due to their high specific surface area, chemical and thermal stability. This work synthesizes regenerable K2CO3/CNT sorbents and investigates their sorption properties under conditions simulating CO2 removal in life support and decarbonization systems. A maximum sorption capacity of 15 wt. % for CO2 was achieved with a sorbent containing 71 wt. % K2CO2. The obtained regenerable materials have stable sorption capacity over multiple sorption-regeneration cycles, which opens up prospects for their practical application.