Solvent selection for carbon dioxide absorption

Carbon dioxide absorption potentials of selected solvents were assessed by absorption at 40 degrees C up to 9.5kPa CO2 partial pressure and desorption at 80 degrees C down to 1.0kPa CO2 partial pressure and compared with monoethanolamine (MEA). Results showed that cyclic capacity of MEA in molCO(2)/molamine decreases with increase in concentration while its CO2 removal per cycle increases with concentration. Sarcosine neutralized with potassium hydroxide showed similar behaviour but slightly lower performance than MEA. Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) showed outstanding CO2 absorption potentials, it maintained very high absorption rate and removes high amounts of CO2 per cycle. 1.0M TEPA removes 3 times more CO2 per cycle than 1.0M MEA, however working with TEPA at higher concentrations proved challenging. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.