High-pressure CO2 adsorption on MCM-41: Efficiency of microwave-assisted synthesis

The rapid increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, driven by human activities, has become a critical factor in global climate change, posing severe risks to sustainable development. Addressing this challenge necessitates substantial CO₂ removal, which demands innovative and efficient technologies. Carbon dioxide adsorption on porous materials is a promising strategy to mitigate this issue. This study investigates the synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica MCM-41 by microwave irradiation, a technique that offers significant advantages over conventional hydrothermal methods. By optimizing the synthesis conditions, we produced MCM-41 silica with superior structural properties in just 30 min. Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, FTIR and NMR analysis, N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms, and transmission electron microscopy, confirmed the formation of well-defined pores and hexagonal channels. Notably, the synthesized MCM-41 exhibited a high CO₂ adsorption capacity of 12.8 mmol g⁻¹ at 25 °C and 50 bar, outperforming silicas produced via conventional methods and comparable to amine-modified silicas. These results highlight the potential of microwave-assisted synthesis to improve CO₂ capture efficiency, offering a promising approach for future carbon capture and storage applications.