Waste-derived elastic carbon catalysts for integrated CO2 capture and cycloaddition to cyclic carbonates

초록

The pressing global challenge of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, mainly driven by urban growth and industrial activity, is compounded by the ongoing environmental impacts of discarded melamine foam (MF). In response, the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides to form cyclic carbonates offers a promising approach to address these issues; however, this process has been limited by the low reactivity of CO2 and the shortcomings of current catalysts. This study presents a new "waste-treating-waste" approach in which discarded MF is transformed into a strong, compressible carbon sponge. Notably, the optimized PEI–Zn–30–0.5 catalyst, synthesized by integrating carbon sponge, polyethyleneimine, zinc acetate, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, exhibits a remarkable 98% yield and 99% selectivity for propylene carbonate. This excellent performance occurs under mild, co-catalyst- and solvent-free conditions. Additionally, the new catalytic system performs effectively with a wide range of epoxide substrates. The improved mass transfer and better access to active sites result from the hierarchical porosity and uniform nanolayer of the catalyst. Overall, this research provides a practical, sustainable way to recycle MF waste and to use CO2 efficiently, thereby greatly supporting efforts toward global carbon neutrality © 2026 Published by Elsevier B.V.

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