Development of Potassium Impregnated Carbon Absorbents for Indoor CO₂ Adsorption

− Relatively high indoor CO₂ concentration (>1,000 ppm) has a negative impact on human health. In this work, indoor CO₂ adsorbent was developed by impregnating KOH or K₂CO₃ on commercial activated carbon, named as KOH/AC and K₂CO₃/AC. Commercial activated carbon (AC) showed relatively high BET surface area (929 m²/g) whereas KOH/AC and K₂CO₃/AC presented lower BET surface area of 13.6 m²/g and 289 m²/g. Two experimental methods of TGA (2,000 ppmCO₂, weight basis) and chamber test (initial concentration: 2,000 ppmCO₂, CO₂ IR analyzer) were used to investigate the adsorption capacity. KOH/AC and K₂CO₃/AC exhibited similar adsorption capacities (145~150 mg_CO2/g), higher than K₂CO₃/Al+Si supports adsorbent (84.1 mg_CO2/g_sample). Similarly, chamber test also showed similar trend. Both KOH/AC and K₂CO₃/AC represented higher adsorption capacities (KOH/AC: 93.5 mg_CO2/g K₂CO₃/AC: 94.5 mg_CO2/g_sample) K₂CO₃/Al+Si supports. This is due to the KOH or K₂CO₃ impregnation increased alkaline active sites (chemical adsorption), which is beneficial for CO₂ adsorption. In addition, the regeneration test results showed both K-based adsorbents pose a good regeneration and reusability. Finally, the current study suggested that both KOH/AC and K₂CO₃/AC have a great potential to be used as CO₂ adsorbent for indoor CO₂ adsorption.