Ya-Chieh Li

Optimal Absorbent Evaluation for the CO2 Separating Process by Absorption Loading, Desorption Efficiency, Cost, and Environmental Tolerance

The CO2 absorption capacities of potassium glycinate, potassium sarcosinate (choline, proline), mono-ethanolamine (MEA), and tri-ethanolamine were evaluated to find the optimal absorbent for separating CO2 from gaseous products by a CO2 purification process. The absorption loading, desorption efficiency, cost, and environmental tolerance were assessed to select the optimal absorbent. MEA was found to be the optimum absorbent for separating the CO2 and H2 mixture in gaseous product. The maximum absorption loading rate was 0.77 mol CO2 per mol MEA at temperature of 20°C and absorbent concentration of 2.5 mol/L, whereas desorption efficiency was 90% by heating for 3 h at 130°C. MEA was found to be an optimal absorbent for the purification process of CO2 during gaseous production.