Metallic copper as binder for structuring of Zeolite 13X sorbents for CO2 capture by thermal swing adsorption

With the urgent need to decarbonize major CO2-producing sectors, such as the transport industry, particular attention is focused on heavy-duty freight. Addressing this challenge, recent research efforts have explored the development of onboard post-combustion capture and storage systems for CO2 utilizing thermal swing adsorption with adsorptive materials. This study focuses on synthesizing five cylindrical pellets, including one composed of pure zeolite 13X and four containing varying concentrations of copper. The incorporation of copper aims to enhance the thermal conductivity capacity of zeolite for the regeneration process. Key methodologies employed in this study include palletisation, crystallographic analysis using X-Ray diffraction (XRD), investigation of morphology and copper distribution along zeolite surfaces via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), determination of adsorption capacities and CO2/N2 selectivity using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and assessment of specific heat capacity and thermal diffusivity through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Laser Flash Analysis (LFA), respectively, for the calculation of thermal conductivity. This comprehensive approach offers insights into the potential of incorporating copper into zeolite pellets to enhance their thermal properties, thereby contributing to the advancement of onboard CO2 capture technologies for heavy-duty freight transport