Enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> Capture and Utilization through Chemically and Physically Dual-Modified Amino Cellulose Aerogels Integrated with Microalgae-Immobilized Hydrogels
Sijie Li, Yibin Yu, Jingjing Chang, Zhaozhu Zheng, Gang Li, Xiaoqin Wang, David L. Kaplan
Abstract
This study introduces a novel method for CO 2 capture and utilization by integrating chemically and physically dual-modified amino cellulose aerogels with microalgae-immobilized silk fibroin/sodium alginate (SF/SA) composite hydrogels. The modified cellulose aerogels, enhanced with 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl-dimethoxymethylsilane (AEAPMDS) and fumed silica-polyethyleneimine (SiO 2 @PEI), exhibited significantly improved CO 2 adsorption capacity, mechanical strength, and thermal stability compared to microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) aerogels. This modification addresses the limitations of traditional physical and chemical adsorption methods. The captured CO 2 was effectively utilized by the microalgae embedded in the SF/SA hydrogel, leading to increased growth rates, improved carbon fixation efficiency, and reduced energy consumption during CO 2 capture and storage. Temperature regulation was applied to optimize CO 2 adsorption and desorption, demonstrating the system’s potential for air quality improvement and sustainable bioengineering applications, providing a new strategy to combat climate change.