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A comparative study of acid-activated non-expandable kaolinite and expandable montmorillonite for their CO2 sequestration capacity

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Abstract

This study aims to improve the pore volume and specific surface area of kaolinite (Kaol) and montmorillonite (Mt) through low-temperature acid treatment to address their limited adsorption capacity. Clay mineral samples underwent sulfuric acid activation at various concentrations and durations. SEM analysis indicated acid activation improved kaolinite pore structure, increasing specific surface area, while montmorillonite exhibited reduced grain size and higher porosity, resulting in greater pore volume and surface area. EDX analysis revealed changes in chemical composition, including a 10% increase in silica and a 13% reduction in aluminium in kaolinite, whereas montmorillonite exhibited a 13% aluminium increase and 9.5% higher silica content. Kaolinite’s XRD pattern remained unchanged, resisting 2.5 M acid activation, while montmorillonite displayed modified patterns, indicating interlayer conversion with increased acid concentration. BET analysis confirmed higher sulfuric acid concentration increased pore volume and surface area, while FTIR analysis showed stable Si–O stretching peaks with changing intensity after 8 h. Montmorillonite exhibited Al–OH and Mg–OH bands, decreasing with higher acid concentration, and Si–O–Fe and Si–O–Al bonds disappeared with acid activation. Thus, the results indicate significantly enhanced pore volume and specific surface area after acid activation, accelerating CO2 adsorption rates. This activation demonstrates a direct relationship between acid concentration and reaction time with clay minerals’ pore characteristics. These clay minerals can be used as adsorbents for CO2 in carbon capture technology, aiding the global goal of achieving ‘net zero’ emissions by 2050.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Teesside University for funding the PhD work of the first author. The authors would like to specifically thank the team of senior technicians at Teesside University, in particular Jeff Lawrence and Richard Medd, for their help in this project.

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Teesside University funding the PhD work of the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BA, UK

    Mardin Abdalqadir, Sina Rezaei Gomari, Tannaz Pak & David Hughes

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, 46001, Iraq

    Dler Shwan

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  1. Mardin Abdalqadir
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  2. Sina Rezaei Gomari
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  3. Tannaz Pak
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MA: Conceptualization, Methodology, Laboratory Experiments, Investigation, Writing an original draft. SRG: conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Review, and Editing. TP: Review and Editing. DH: Review and Editing. DS: Review and Editing.

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Correspondence to Mardin Abdalqadir.

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Abdalqadir, M., Rezaei Gomari, S., Pak, T. et al. A comparative study of acid-activated non-expandable kaolinite and expandable montmorillonite for their CO2 sequestration capacity. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 137, 375–398 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-023-02521-w

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