Tetraethylenepentamine-modified Halloysite Clay Nanotubes for CO2 Capture
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 1 (March 2026) pp. 70-77
Abstract
Halloysite clay nanotubes, which occur naturally in a nanotubular form, possess high inherent adsorption capability due to their tubular morphology, high porosity, and large specific surface area. To enhance the application of these nanotubes in CO2 capture, a novel approach of immobilizing tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) onto alkali-modified halloysite nanotubes via the impregnation method was employed. Alkali modification of halloysite nanotubes using KOH was carried out to activate the multilayered surface for impregnation. The prepared halloysite clay solid sorbents were characterized using FTIR, SEM, and EDAX, and were further tested for their potential in CO2 capture. The adsorption capacity of halloysite significantly increased from 6.36 mmol CO2/g of adsorbent to 10.23 mmol CO2/g of adsorbent upon modification with TEPA. In conclusion, TEPA-impregnated halloysite represents a promising nanomaterial for CO₂ capture, and further techno-economic studies may yield a viable and flexible capture system suitable for a wide range of process industries.
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