Importance of small micropores in CO2capture by phenolic resin-based activated carbon spheres

Abstract
Phenolic resin-based carbon spheres obtained by a slightly modified Stöber method are shown to be superior CO2 adsorbents. A direct KOH activation of polymeric spheres gave carbons with small micropores (2 g−1), which are able to adsorb an unprecedented amount of CO2 (up to 8.9 mmol g−1) at 0 °C and ambient pressure.