Adsorption methods for CO2 capture are characterized by high selectivity and low energy consumption. Therefore, the engineering of solid supports for efficient CO2 adsorption attracts research attention. Modification of mesoporous silica materials with tailor-made organic molecules can greatly improve silica’s performance in CO2 capture and separation. In that context, a new derivative of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide, possessing an electron-rich condensed aromatic structure and also known for its anti-oxidative properties, was synthesized and applied as a modifying agent of 2D SBA-15, 3D SBA-16, and KIT-6 silicates. The physicochemical properties of the initial and modified materials were studied using nitrogen physisorption and temperature-gravimetric analysis. The adsorption capacity of CO2 was measured in a dynamic CO2 adsorption regime. The three modified materials displayed a higher capacity for CO2 adsorption than the initial ones. Among the studied sorbents, the modified mesoporous SBA-15 silica showed the highest adsorption capacity for CO2 (3.9 mmol/g). In the presence of 1 vol.% water vapor, the adsorption capacities of the modified materials were enhanced. Total CO2 desorption from the modified materials was achieved at 80 °C. The obtained silica materials displayed stable performance in five CO2 adsorption/desorption cycles. The experimental data can be appropriately described by the Yoon–Nelson kinetic model.
High surface-area, mesoporous CeO2, ZrO2, and Ce-Zr composite nanoparticles were developed using the hydrothermal template-assisted synthesis method. Samples were characterized using XRD, N2 physisorption, TEM, XPS, and FT-IR spectroscopic methods. The CO2 adsorption ability of the obtained materials was tested under dynamic and equilibrium conditions. A high CO2 adsorption capacity in CO2/N2 flow or CO2/N2/H2O was determined for all studied adsorbents depending on their composition flow. A higher CO2 adsorption was registered for Ce-Zr composite nanomaterials due to the presence of strong O2− base sites and enriched surface oxygen species. The role of the Ce/Zr ratio is the process of the formation of highly active and selective adsorption sites is discussed. The calculated heat of adsorption revealed the processes of chemisorption and physisorption. Experimental data could be appropriately described by the Yoon–Nelson kinetic model. The composites reused in five adsorption/desorption cycles showed a high stability with a slight decrease in CO2 adsorption capacities in dry flow and in the presence of water vapor.
SBA-15 and MCM-48 mesoporous silicas were modified with functionalized (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) by using the post-synthesis method, thus introducing N- and P-containing groups to the pore surface. The structure of the newly synthesized modifiers (aldimine and aminophosphonate derivatives of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and their grafting onto the porous matrix were proved by applying multinuclear NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. The content of the grafted functional groups was determined via thermogravimetric analysis. The physicochemical properties of the adsorbent samples were studied by nitrogen physisorption and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The adsorption capacity of CO2 was measured in a dynamic CO2 adsorption regime. The modified silicas displayed an enhanced adsorption capacity compared to the initial material. The 13C NMR spectra with high-power proton decoupling proved the presence of physically captured CO2. A value of 4.60 mmol/g was achieved for the MCM-48 material grafted with the Schiff base residues. The total CO2 desorption was achieved at 40 °C. A slight decrease of about 5% in CO2 adsorption capacities was registered for the modified silicas in three adsorption/desorption cycles, indicating their performance stability.
In the present study, for the first time, a biodegradable and non-toxic polyphosphoramidate glycohydrogel (PPAGHGel) was prepared by crosslinking a polyphosphoramidate glycoconjugate (PPAG) with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) under mild conditions. Poly(oxyethylene H-phosphonate) (POEHP) was used as a precursor and was converted into PPAG via the Staudinger reaction with glucose-containing azide (2-p-azidobenzamide-2-deoxy-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-trimethylsilyl-α-D-glucopyranose). Then, crosslinking of PPAG was performed to yield PPAGHGel, which was thoroughly characterized. The gel showed a gel fraction of 83%, a swelling degree of 1426 ± 98%, and G″ = 1560 ± 65 Pa. The gel was fully degraded by alkaline phosphatase (400 U/L, pH 9) in 19 days, while hydrolytically, up to 52% degradation was observed under similar conditions. Multivalent studies of the obtained hydrogel with lectin–Concanavalin A were performed. PPAGHGel binds 92% of Concanavalin A within 24 h and the complex remains stable until the amount of glucose reaches 0.3 mM. PPAGHGel acts as a stabilizer for silver nanoparticles (12 nm). SEM shows pores measuring 10 µm (surface) and 0.1 mm (interior) with capillary channels, confirming the gel’s suitability for biosensors, drug delivery, or wound dressings. The cytotoxic (IC50) and cell-adhesive properties of the obtained hydrogel were investigated on human cell lines (HeLa). Antibacterial activity tests were also performed with gel containing silver nanoparticles against skin-associated pathogenic bacteria. The results show that PPAGHGel possesses excellent biocompatibility, non-adhesive properties and antibacterial activity.