Wood-structured carbon with reassembled pores showing high propylene adsorption rate for efficient separation of propylene/propane

• Published in: Separation and purification technology Vol. 354; p. 128649
• Main Authors: Wang, Cheng-Tong, Li, Wen-Cui, Wang, Miao, Zhao, Guo-Hua, Liu, Ru-Shuai, Hao, Guang-Ping, Lu, An-Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 19.02.2025
• Subjects: Adsorption separation; Dynamic molecular porogen; Porous carbon; Propylene/propane separation; Wood; Propylene/propane separation; Dynamic molecular porogen; Porous carbon; Wood; Adsorption separation
• ISSN: 1383-5866
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2024.128649

Natural renewable wood can be processed by appropriate methods to prepare a high-performance adsorbent that possesses large adsorption capacity, high selectivity and fast adsorption rate. [Display omitted] •Synthetic method for wood-structured carbon with reassembled pores is presented.•In-situ pore-forming strategy enables the generation of additional micropores.•4.1-fold enhancement of C3H6 diffusion constant is achieved.•Dynamic selectivity for C3H6/C3H8 separation is up to 161.•Propylene purity is 99.9% with a recovery of 70% by Aspen simulations. Efficient separation of propylene/propane requires enhancing adsorption rates on adsorbents, while maintaining high adsorption capacity and selectivity, heavily relying on engineering pore structures within the adsorbents. Herein, we have prepared wood-structured carbon with reassembled pores by using wood frameworks incorporated with CuCl2 and a polymer coating. Upon carbonization, the wood framework transforms into microporous carbon, while the polymer coating converts into molecular sieving carbon. Notably, the evaporation of CuCl produced from the in-situ reduction of CuCl2 creates additional micropores in the molecular sieving carbon layer. This wood-structured carbon adsorbent exhibits a propylene diffusion constant of 0.011 min−1 at 0.5 bar, which is 4.1-fold higher than the sample without CuCl2. Additionally, this adsorbent shows a high propylene uptake of 2.38 mmol g−1 and a propylene/propane dynamic selectivity of up to 161 at 298 K and 1 bar. Aspen simulation suggests that a propylene purity of 99.9 % can be achieved with a 70 % recovery using a vacuum swing adsorption process. The enhanced performance is primarily attributed to the unique pore structures of the wood-structured carbon adsorbent.