CO2 capture with post-modified consumer acrylonitrile plastics

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered an indispensable tool for abating climate change caused by human activity. With annual CO2-emissions exceeding 37 gigatons, there is an urgent need for accessing sorbents on a million-ton production scale. Solid amine-based CO2-adsorbents are advantageous compared to conventional aqueous absorbents due to an energetically more facile regeneration and greater stability. However, synthesis of solid adsorbents is still comparatively costly and of lower production capacity. Here we report the transition metal catalysed hydrogenation or combined hydrocyanation/hydrogenation of abundant but difficult-to-recycle consumer nitrile plastics, rubbers, and textiles, to generate solid amine adsorbents that capture and release CO2 by thermal swing adsorption. The protocol is showcased with nitrile gloves, LEGO® bricks, kitchenware plastic, and acrylic textiles, taking advantage of the nitrogen already present in these polymers. These amine materials display CO2-capacities up to an average of 2.98 mmol/g, while some can match or even surpass the working capacity of a commercial benchmark adsorbent, Lewatit VP OC 1065, when subjected to simulated flue gas at 90 °C. Furthermore, excellent adsorbent stabilities towards harmful NO2 and SO2 flue gas components are observed. We anticipate our work will provide a potential pathway forward to rapidly accessing new solid adsorbents from consumer plastics for managing CO2-emissions.