Mass transfer coefficients and correlation for CO2 absorption into 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) using structured packing

The volumetric overall mass transfer coefficient (K(G)a(v)) for CO2 absorption into aqueous solutions of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) was investigated with an absorption column packed with laboratory structured packings. The K(G)a(v) value was evaluated over ranges of main operating variables; that is, up to 10 kPa partial pressure of CO2, 46.2 - 96.8 kmol/(m(2) h) gas molar flux, 6.1 - 14.6 m(3)/(m(2) h) liquid loading, and 1.1 - 3.0 kmol/m(3) liquid concentration. To allow the mass transfer data to be readily utilized, an empirical K(G)a(v) correlation for this system was developed. The values of mass transfer coefficient for the CO2-AMP system using a random and the tested structured packings are also compared. For a given system and operating conditions, the structured packing provides, in general, more than eightfold higher overall K(G)a(v) values compared with those of commercial random packings.