CARBON DIOXIDE ABSORPTION AND STORAGE

USING METAL COMPLEXES AS CATALYST

Review I
CH5714
A Project Report
Submitted by
SASISREE K- 2022303030
ANAND S-2022303034

In partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
MM<

ALAGAPPA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

ANNA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI – 600 025

August 2025

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 ANNA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI 600 025

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “CARBON DIOXIDE ABSORPTION AND

STORAGE USING METAL COMPLEXES AS CATALYST” is the

Bonafide work of “SASISREE K (2022303030) and ANAND S
(2022303034)’’ who carried out the project work under my supervision.

SIGNATURE BY HOD SIGNATURE BY GUIDE

Dr. K.V RADHA Dr. K.V RADHA

Head of the department Head of the department

Department of Chemical Department of Chemical
Engineering Engineering
Alagappa College of Alagappa College of
Technology Technology
Anna University, Anna University,
Chennai - 600025. Chennai – 600025.

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ABSTRACT

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ levels are a major driver of climate change,

necessitating efficient capture and storage strategies. This project explores the use

of metal complexes as potential CO₂ absorbers and catalysts, offering tunable

coordination sites, high selectivity, and the ability to operate under mild

[Link] (III) nitrate and Erbium (III) nitrate are selected for

their strong Lewis acidity and capability to form stable coordination bonds with

CO₂.

The study involves preparing these complexes, exposing them to CO₂ under

controlled parameters, and analyzing their performance using FTIR, UV-Vis

spectroscopy, and XRD. The objectives are to evaluate CO₂ uptake capacity,

compare efficiencies between the two complexes, and assess stability over multiple

capture–release cycles. Additionally, their catalytic potential in converting CO₂

into value-added products such as carbonates or formates will be examined.

This research aims to contribute to sustainable carbon management solutions,

integrating CO₂ capture with utilization, thereby addressing environmental and

economic challenges of greenhouse gas emissions.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

[Link] CONTENTS [Link]

1 INTRODUCTION 3

2 PROJECT AIM 4

3 PROJECT OBJECTIVES 4

4 LITERATURE REVIEW 4

5 METHODOLOGY 6

6 DEVELOPING AREAS IN PROJECT 7

7 REFERENCES 9

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 1. Introduction

Global climate change is one of the most critical environmental challenges of the
21st century, driven primarily by the rapid increase in greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide (CO₂). Major sources of CO₂ emissions include fossil fuel
combustion, industrial processes, and deforestation. The excessive accumulation of
CO₂ in the atmosphere has led to global warming, rising sea levels, and extreme
weather patterns.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has emerged as a promising strategy to

mitigate CO₂ emissions and reduce their impact on the environment. Among the
various capture techniques, chemical absorption stands out due to its potential for
selective, efficient, and reusable removal of CO₂ from gas streams.

Metal complexes offer a unique approach to CO₂ absorption due to their tunable
coordination chemistry. These complexes, formed by metal ions bonded to organic
ligands, can interact with CO₂ molecules either through reversible chemical
bonding or catalysis. Their properties—such as stability, binding affinity, and
reusability—make them promising candidates for developing efficient CO₂ capture
systems at the laboratory and industrial scale.

This project aims to explore and evaluate the use of metal complexes as catalysts
for CO₂ absorption and storage, contributing to the development of sustainable
solutions for reducing atmospheric CO₂ levels.

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 2. Project Aim:

Our aim is to synthesize and characterize the metal complexes as catalysts for
efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption and storage, and to evaluate the
performance based on its absorption efficiency, stability, and ease of synthesis.

3. Project Objectives
 To synthesize a Schiff base ligand suitable for coordination with lanthanide
metals.
 To prepare metal complexes using Gadolinium (III) nitrate and Erbium (III)
nitrate.
 To study the CO₂ absorption capacity of the synthesized metal complexes.
 To analyze structural changes before and after CO₂ interaction using UV-Vis
and FTIR spectroscopy.
 To explore the reversibility and regeneration

4. Literature Review

Lahuri et al. (2016) studied the adsorption and desorption behavior of CO₂ using
FeO, Fe₂O₃, and Fe₃O₄. Among them, Fe₂O₃ showed the highest CO₂ uptake
(~3.95 mg/g) and good regeneration capacity over four cycles.
This study provides insight into the behavior of metal oxides, useful for comparing
with synthesized metal complexes.

D’Alessandro et al. (2015) investigated Zn(II) complexes with various ligands in

methanol to enhance CO₂ absorption. Complexes with higher solubility showed
better binding, with some reaching binding constants above 69,000 M⁻¹.

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This supports the importance of ligand design and solvent compatibility in metal
complex-based CO₂ capture.

Cummins et al. (2015) demonstrated CO₂ insertion into titanium carboxylate

complexes under mild conditions, forming stable products.
This confirms the feasibility of metal–CO₂ coordination and guides complex
selection for absorption.

Aizaz et al. (2025) reviewed MXene-based materials for CO₂ capture and
conversion. MXenes offer high surface activity, tunable properties, and potential
for electrocatalytic CO₂ conversion.
This provides future scope for integrating CO₂ capture with value-added product
conversion.

Vojoudi et al. (2023) highlighted how surface modification of MXenes improves

CO₂ affinity, even under humid conditions.
This supports the idea that surface functionality enhances capture efficiency,
relevant for metal–ligand design.

Lin et al. (2022) discussed MOFs for high-temperature CO₂ capture and showed
that certain MOFs retain performance at elevated temperatures.
This emphasizes the importance of thermal stability in catalyst design for industrial
applications.

Samanta et al. (2012) reviewed various solid adsorbents including zeolites,

MOFs, and activated carbons. Factors such as selectivity, cost, and regeneration
were compared.
This helps benchmark the performance of metal complexes against traditional
adsorbents.

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Al-Mamoori et al. (2017) examined CO₂ capture using liquid absorption methods
such as amines and ionic liquids. Challenges included solvent degradation and high
regeneration energy.
This justifies the need for alternative chemical absorption systems like metal
complexes.

5. Methodology

1. Synthesis of Metal-Ligand Complexes for CO2 Absorption

 Synthesis of Coordination Complexes:

The initial phase of this project involves the synthesis of coordination
complexes, wherein a transition metal ion (such as Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, or
Ni²⁺) is coordinated with an organic ligand. Ligands such as Schiff
bases, amines, and carboxylates will be employed due to their strong
metal-binding capabilities and their potential role in CO₂ activation.
 Selection of Metal Ions:
Transition metals like Gadolinium (Gd), Erbium (Er) are selected
based on their Lewis acidic nature and well-established catalytic
activity in CO₂-related transformations.
 Selection of Ligands:
Schiff bases and other N, O-donor ligands are favored for their
electron-donating properties, structural stability, and synthetic
tunability, which enable effective coordination with metal centers and
enhance the potential for CO₂ interaction.
 Synthetic Procedure:

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 Ligands will be synthesized via condensation reactions, typically
involving aldehydes and amines.
The resulting ligands will be reacted with metal salts
(e.g., Gd (NO₃) ₃·6H₂O or Er (NO₃) ₃·6H₂O) in alcoholic solvents
such as ethanol or methanol under reflux conditions to form metal–
ligand complexes.
The synthesized complexes will be purified using techniques such as
recrystallization or filtration.
 Characterization Techniques:
 UV–Visible Spectroscopy: To confirm complex formation and
observe electronic transitions.
 FTIR Spectroscopy: To verify ligand-to-metal coordination through
shifts in characteristic functional group vibrations.
 Melting Point Analysis and Visual Inspection: For preliminary
assessment of thermal stability and coordination-induced changes in
color or morphology.

2. Measurement of CO₂ Absorption Efficiency

Following synthesis, the coordination complexes will be systematically evaluated

for their CO₂ absorption capacity under controlled laboratory conditions. This step
is critical to assess the efficiency and selectivity of each complex in capturing
CO₂.

Experimental Methodology:
 The synthesized complex will be dissolved in an appropriate polar
solvent, such as methanol or ethanol, to ensure uniform dispersion.

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 Pure CO₂ gas will be introduced into the solution using a gas delivery
system equipped with a peristaltic pump or gas flow regulator to
maintain a consistent flow rate.
 The CO₂ absorption process will be monitored over time until
equilibrium is achieved.

Analytical Techniques for CO₂ Coordination:

 UV–Visible Spectroscopy: Used to monitor changes in absorbance
profiles, indicating electronic environment alterations upon CO₂
binding.
 FTIR Spectroscopy: Shifts in characteristic vibrational bands (e.g.,
C=O stretching) will confirm chemical interaction between the
complex and CO₂.

Alternative Analytical Approaches:

 Gravimetric Analysis: If a solid CO₂ adduct is formed, the mass

change of the sample before and after exposure will be used to
quantify CO₂ uptake.
 Manometric Method: In a closed system, CO₂ absorption may also
be inferred from the pressure drop, provided a calibrated setup is
available.

Key Outputs:

 Molar Absorption Capacity: Expressed as mol CO₂ per mol

of complex.

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  Binding Constant (K₁): Calculated from equilibrium data
using appropriate isotherm models (e.g., Langmuir or Benesi-
Hildebrand plots), if applicable.

3. Thermal and Chemical Stability Testing

Stability is a critical parameter for real-world CO₂ capture systems. The

synthesized complexes will be subjected to both thermal and chemical stress
to evaluate their durability and functional resilience.

Thermal Stability Assessment:

 Complexes will be heated in a controlled manner (e.g., from 50 °C to

300 °C) using a muffle furnace or Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
instrument, if available.
 Thermal decomposition profiles and weight loss percentages will be
recorded to determine degradation points.
 Post-heating samples will be recharacterized using FTIR and UV-Vis
spectroscopy to identify any structural or functional changes.

Chemical Stability Evaluation:

 Complexes will be exposed to various environmental conditions,

including:
 Ambient air and moisture
 Acidic and basic media
 After exposure, CO₂ absorption tests will be repeated to assess
retention of performance.

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  Reversibility Studies: Desorption behavior will be tested by applying
a nitrogen purge or mild heating to evaluate recyclability of the
complex
5. Comparative Performance Analysis
To identify the most effective metal–ligand system, a comprehensive
comparison of all synthesized complexes will be conducted using a set of
defined performance metrics.

Performance Metrics:
 CO₂ Absorption Capacity: Reported as mg CO₂ per gram of
complex or mol CO₂ per mol complex.
 Thermal and Chemical Stability: Based on structural retention after
multiple thermal/chemical stress cycles.
 Ease of Synthesis: Includes reagent availability, reaction yield, and
procedural complexity.
 Solubility and Kinetics: Influence on absorption efficiency and
reaction times.
 Reusability and Desorption Efficiency: Ability to undergo multiple
absorption–desorption cycles without significant loss of function.

5. Desorption/Regeneration (Optional)

• The solution will be gently heated (50–70°C) or flushed with N₂ to study

CO₂ desorption.
• The reversibility of CO₂ capture will be monitored by repeating the
absorption–desorption cycle and checking performance retention.

6. Developing Areas in the Project

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 Improved Ligand Design: Creating more efficient ligands for stronger CO₂
binding.

 Metal Selection: Testing low-cost, eco-friendly metals like Cu, Zn, Ni.

 Stability & Reusability: Enhancing the durability of metal complexes over

multiple cycles.

 Absorption Efficiency: Optimizing lab setups to accurately measure CO₂

uptake.

 Industrial Scale-Up: Exploring the potential for real-world applications.

 CO₂ Conversion: Linking capture with conversion into useful chemicals or

fuels.

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7. References

1. Aizaz, U., Hassan, I. U., & Onaizi, S. A. (2025). MXenes-based materials

for CO₂ capture and conversion: A comprehensive review.
2. Eilers, M., Schwitalla, K., Schmidtmann, M., & Beckhaus, R. (2025).
Titanium carboxylate complexes through CO₂ capture.
3. Hakim, A., Marliza, T. S., Abu Tahari, N. M., Isahak, R. W. N. W., Yusop, R.
M., Hisham, W. M. M., & Yarmo, A. M. (2016). Studies on CO₂ adsorption
and desorption properties from various types of iron oxides (FeO, Fe₂O₃,
and Fe₃O₄).
4. Karki, S., Okolocha, C., Phipps, C. A., Mashuta, M. S., Buchanan, R. M., &
Grapperhaus, C. A. (2025). Solubility-driven ligand design of Zn (II)
complexes for enhanced CO₂ capture in methanol.
5. Lee, S.-Y., & Park, S.-J. (2015). A review on solid adsorbents for carbon
dioxide capture.
6. Li, X., Zhan, M., Liu, Y., Tu, W., & Li, H. (2024). MXene synthesis and
carbon capture applications: Mini-review.
7. Ochedi, F. O., Yu, J., Yu, H., Liu, Y., & Hussain, A. (2020). Carbon dioxide
capture using liquid absorption methods: A review.
8. Wei, X., Musikanth, D., & Zhang, S. (2025). Metal–organic framework for
high-temperature CO₂ capture

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