Copper oxide nanoparticles modified activated carbon toward the recovery of bioisoprene

Abstract

Abstract In engineering applications, adsorption is widely employed to recover isoprene from fermentation off-gases. However, the water vapor in fermentation offgases results in competitive adsorption between water molecules and isoprene, leading to significant deterioration in adsorption performance. This study selected activated carbon (AC) as the adsorbent material for isoprene recovery. CuO NPs were synthesized using the thermal reflux method, and the activated carbon (AC) was combined with copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) to enhance its hydrophobic properties. Systematic investigations including material characterization and dynamic adsorption of isoprene were carried out across a relative humidity range from 0% to 80%. The results indicated that the water contact angle of AC/CuO NPs was 92.5°, and its specific surface area was 789.53 m 2 /g. At elevated humidity, the saturated isoprene adsorption capacity of the modified AC reached 159.26 mg/g, achieving a saturated adsorption rate of 15.9%, which represents an effective adsorption of isoprene. The current study demonstrates a practical to address the marked decline in adsorption capacity under high humidity conditions, providing practical insights for the efficient recovery of bioisoprene.