Pilot plant results for a precipitating potassium carbonate solvent absorption process promoted with glycine for enhanced CO2 capture

The absorption performance of a glycine promoted precipitating potassium carbonate (K2CO3) solvent absorption process for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture has been presented using a laboratory scale pilot plant. Glycine has been added as a rate promoter to 40-45 wt.% K2CO3 solutions to examine the enhancement of the CO2 absorption process. The laboratory scale pilot plant has been designed to capture 4-10 kg/hr of CO2 from an air/CO2 mixture at a feed gas rate of 30-55 kg/hr. Performance data of the absorber including pressure drop, holdup and CO2 removal efficiency has been collected from the pilot plant and presented for a range of operating conditions. The addition of glycine was found to improve the CO2 recovery rate by up to 6 times whilst also slightly increasing the pressure drop and holdup measured in the packed absorption column which is likely due to a reduction in the surface tension of the solvent. Additionally, increasing the K2CO3 solvent concentration and operating with a higher CO2 feed gas concentration were found to increase the CO2 recovery results. Finally performance data from the absorber has been used to validate an Aspen Plus simulation of the system. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.