The use of electrospun nanofibers for absorption and separation of carbon dioxide: A review

Abstract

Air pollution as a result of industrialization is a serious problem in many developed and developing countries. Gaseous nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx) produced primarily due to the coal combustion process and automobiles, cause severe environmental problems such as acid rain, smog, ground level ozone etc. These have far reaching consequences on the ecosystem and in many cases direct toxicology effects on humans. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) are another important class of air pollutants, which are widely regarded to be responsible for the global warming effect. Nanofibers could play an important role as gas sensors for the detection of acceptable emission limits for a variety of gases. Various methods have been proposed for carbon dioxide separation and eventual storage. Ideal materials for carbon dioxide capture and separation must have a porous structure, good strength and stability, and an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. In this regard, electrospun polymer nanofibers are among the ideal materials for carbon dioxide separation. Today, due to the appropriate physical structure and easy and cost-effective manufacturing method, electrospun polymer nanofibers have received more attention from scientists. In recent years, the use of polymer nanofibers has been identified as a high-efficiency method for the separation of gaseous pollutants, including carbon dioxide, from gaseous streams. In this review article, an attempt has been made to investigate the separation of CO2 gas from air using various methods, including the membrane separation method. The recent progress in the design and fabrication of electrospun nanofibers for chemical separation reviews. Also, the different CO2 capture mechanisms including electrostatic, affinity, covalent bonding, chelation, and magnetic adsorption by adsorbents, solvents, and membranes are explained