Study of amino-modified resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels for odorous gas removal

Abstract

When it comes to owning pets, pet odor is a major concern for many individuals. Ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) are the primary odor components that have negative effects on human life. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a deodorizing material with high NH₃ and H₂S adsorption capacity. In this study, Resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogels containing amine groups (RF-Mx) were prepared using the sol-gel method and atmospheric pressure drying technique. Melamine was used as a modifier. The specific surface area of the modified aerogel was 119 m²/g with an average pore size of 12 nm when the melamine addition was 20%. The adsorption capacity of RF-M20 for odor was the highest (NH₃: 593.8 mg/g, H₂S: 640 mg/g), which was significantly superior to the unmodified sample. In addition, the adsorption capacity of RF-M20 for H₂S exceeded that of commercial activated carbon. The results concluded that the introduction of amine groups and the higher microporous specific surface area benefited the chemical and physical adsorption of gases, effectively improving the adsorbent’s capacity to capture NH₃ and H₂S. The preparation method is not only efficient in enhancing the odor adsorption capacity but also simple and cost-effective to operate, showing promising potential for industrial applications.