The increasingly stringent environmental regulations worldwide demand the use of efficient methods for air purification. Moreover, the alarming effect of greenhouse gases on the world climate requires the removal and sequestration of large quantities of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). This work is contributed towards the development of efficient, amine-containing, lamellar structured silica adsorbents for CO2 removal. Seven different materials were prepared by impregnation of various amounts of PEI, over as synthesized, or partially extracted or calcined lamellar silica. Materials were characterized by powder XRD and SEM. CO2 adsorption capacity was measured by thermogravimetry. The effects of PEI loading, temperature, CO2 partial pressure and surface alkyl chains were investigated. PEI seems to be dispersed better in a consistent surface alkyl chain network, leading to enhanced CO2 uptake. VB-13, the material with 50 wt% of PEI, recorded the highest CO2 uptake at 75 °C, in the presence of both 15% CO2/N2 and 100% CO2 with values of 3.02 and 3.50 mmol/g respectively. The optimum temperature for CO2 uptake was found to be 75 °C for samples with high PEI loading. Moreover, higher uptake was recorded in the presence of 100% CO2 versus 15% CO2/N2 for all temperatures. Another objective of this study was to investigate the effect of humidity on the CO2 adsorption process. In that case use of the column-breakthrough technique coupled with mass spectrometry to discriminate between CO2 and water was considered. Complete understanding of the technique and the different effects of moisture on CO2 adsorption over amine-containing materials, namely promotion of CO2 uptake and stabilization of the adsorbent, were achieved, based on a thorough scrutiny of the literature. Nonetheless, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and several technical issues, some experiments could not be undertaken.

The design and synthesis of porous materials attracted great attention recently because of their potential use in many fields like clean energy and environmental protection. Herein, we introduced new synthetic approaches for the preparation for porous carbons and organic polymers for selective CO2 and iodine capture application. Regarding CO2 capture application, Two new series of porous carbons (PYDCs) and (TRI-Ps) were synthesized by thermally activating Pyrazole and Triazolo Pyridine monomers respectively using KOH as a catalyst, which leads to porous carbon. PYDCs exhibit high surface area according to Brunauer–Emmett–Tellertheory (SABET = 1266–2013 m2 g−1), high CO2 Isosetric heat Qst(33.2-37.1 kJ/mol) and significantly high CO2 uptakes 8.59mmol g−1 (1bar) at 273k. The reported porous carbons also show significantly high adsorption selectivity for CO2/N2 (128) and CO2/CH4 (13.4) according to Ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) calculation using pure gas isotherms at 298 K. TRI-Ps exhibit high surface area (SABET=1852- 2917 m2 g−1) with a combination of mesoporous and microporous pores. TRI-Ps exhibit CO2 capture capacity of 6.98mmol g−1 at 1 bar and 273K. The development of majority of microporous offered a high CO2 storage capacity to TRI-Ps. High CO2 uptake achieved as a result of preferable pore size, surface area, and high oxygen content and high Qst values. Based on IAST calculation, high CO2/N2 selectivity (113.9) at 298K was achieved. Regarding iodine capture application, two new series of porous organic polymers Benzamidizole Linked Polymers (BILPs) and nitrogen rich porous Polymers (NRPPs) were synthesized and tested. Iodine capture, sorption isotherm and kinetics of adsorption were studied. BILPs exhibit iodine uptake capacity of 227.8 wt.% and 202.8 wt. % for BILP-A and BILP-B respectively. BILP-A shows ability of releasing 95.8% of captured iodine, while, BILP-B released 82.22%. Sorption curves were fitted by Freundlich equation indicating a heterogeneity of adsorption process on the surface. NRPPs exhibit iodine capacity of 192.35 wt.% and 222.35 wt. % for NRPP-1 and NRPP-2 respectively. NRPPs shows ability of releasing the majority of adsorbed Iodine. Sorption curves were fitted by Langmuir equation indicating a heterogeneity of adsorption process on the surface.

As global temperatures rise, cultivation of C3 and C4 crops in arid and semi-arid regions will face major challenges in producing biomass for billions of people. Conventional agricultural techniques that require copious irrigation will need to be complemented with dryland-farming techniques and drought-tolerant crops, such as those from the Agave genus, which use CAM photosynthesis. In the past and present, humans from arid and semi-arid regions of America have maintained a symbiotic relationship using and cultivating Agave (Agavoideae, Asparagaceae). In pre-Columbian times, Native Americans from arid regions relied on Agave cultivation as a subsistence crop to produce food, medicine, and fiber. The Hohokam in the Sonoran Desert cultivated Agave plants using rock mulching, also known as rock piles. This technique enabled the Hohokam to extensively cultivate Agave despite the limited rainwater available in the harsh Sonoran Desert. Although there are several decades of archaeological research for documenting the history of rock piles and Agave in the region beginning in the late 1970s, few studies have addressed the modern application of rock piles to cultivate Agave. Our research employed a multidisciplinary approach to bridge the historic use of rock piles to cultivate Agave with the potential application of rock piles for modern cultivation. In addition to summarizing what is known about the archaeology of Hohokam rock piles, we compiled an extensive review of the literature available on the agroecology, physiology, and natural history of Agave. We described key aspects associated with the hydrology and physical properties of Hohokam rock piles that can bolster Agave CAM photosynthesis in dry regions. We found that the use of rock piles is a feasible means of cultivating Agave under hot and dry conditions in arid regions. In addition, we used an ecological niche modeling approach and field data from Hohokam rock-pile sites and current Agave fields to assess the potential environments where rock piles could be used to cultivate Agave plants in Arizona, USA and Sonora, Mexico. We also combined an experimental archaeology approach with experimental plant physiology where we surveyed Hohokam rock-pile fields at archaeological sites to collect information about the composition of rock piles. We then created a rock-pile field where we evaluated and observed the effects of rock piles on Agave CAM utilization, mainly nocturnal CO2 uptake of Agave. Our results indicated that rock piles provide direct insulation to root systems, which indirectly benefited Agave carbon uptake and reduced temperature and drought stress. Although more agronomic research about rock pile use is needed, our research suggests that rock piles can be applied to cultivate Agave because of the physiological benefits provided such as increasing nocturnal total CO2 uptake. In addition, the suitability of rock piles in the U.S borderlands indicates that rock piles can be applied beyond the regions where they were used by the Hohokam in pre-historic times.

CO2 emission is very important, because it is responsible for about 60% of the &quot / Greenhouse Effect&quot / . The major objectives of this study were to prepare a CO2 emission inventory of Turkey based on districts and provinces by using the fuel consumption data with respect to its sources, to find the CO2 uptake rate of forests in Turkey based on provinces and districts, and to estimate the ground level concentration of CO2 across Turkey using U.S. EPA&#039 / s ISCLT3 model for the preparation of ground level concentration maps. The basic sources of the CO2 emission were taken as households, manufacturing industries, thermal power plants and road vehicles. The sinks of the CO2 were forests. The CO2 uptake by forests was calculated using the annual increment of forest biomass. The results of the CO2 emission inventory conducted in this study between the years 1990 and 2003 showed that the CO2 emission in 1990 was 142.45 million tones/year and the highest emission was calculated in 2000 with a value of 207.97 million tones/year. The regional distribution of CO2 emission showed that the Marmara Region emits the highest regional CO2 emission throughout the years with an average value of 54.76 million tones/year. It was also calculated that Marmara and Aegean Regions are responsible for half of the CO2 emission of Turkey. The results of the CO2 uptake calculations showed that the CO2 uptake of forests in the coastal zone was higher that that in the inland zone. The CO2 uptake in the Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia and South-Eastern Anatolia Regions were 2.6, 1.9 and 1.1 million tones/year, respectively. The maximum CO2 uptake is in the Black Sea Region with a value of 16.4 million tones/year. The highest ground level CO2 concentartions without any sink effect were always obtained in the Marmara Region. However, the forest areas in this region decrease the concentrations considerably. The dispersion model performance is determined highly without the results of the year 2002.