Abstract

The accumulation of greenhouse gases inevitably affects the temperature of both the atmosphere and the Earth's surface, standing as a primary driver of global climate change. The atmospheric concentration of CO2, a greenhouse gas, has risen from a pre-industrial level (mid-18th century) of 280 ppmv to the current 421 ppmv, with an annual increase of approx. 1.8 ppmv. Using chitosan biofilms, a naturally occurring cationic polysaccharide, as a CO2 sorbent presents an economically viable alternative. Chitosan can be sourced from waste in the fishing industry, and its low toxicity and biodegradability make it easy to handle and recycle. In this context, the main goal of this research is to assess the CO2 sorption efficiency of amines-functionalized chitosan biofilms in batch injection systems, along with their characterization through Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and thermal stability analysis using DSC. The findings of this study reveal that chitosan films exhibit high thermal stability (215ºC) and a remarkable CO2 sorption capacity (3.76 mmol CO2/g film). Moreover, the immobilization of basic groups (tetraethylenepentamine – TEPA and polyethylenimine - PEI) through impregnation enhances the CO2 fixation capacity, even at elevated temperatures, underscoring the significant potential of these materials for controlling CO2 emissions.