A low energy consumption sono-microreactor for regeneration of MEA and MEA/AMP solutions

Abstract

Ultrasound was applied to a microreactor for CO2 desorption from 30 wt% aqueous amine solutions. The ultrasonic transducer was attached directly to the microchannel in order to achieve the greatest ultrasound irradiation by the solution. The behavior of two-phase flow was assessed by a digital microscope camera, illustrating the formation of gas bubbles and its growing through the microchannel reactor. Effects of MEA concentration, solution flow rate, temperature, and ultrasonic wave’s power on the desorption rate and desorption percentage was evaluated. Desorption percentage showed a direct relationship with temperature, ultrasound power, and concentration of MEA solution but an inverse relationship with the flow rate. In addition to performing the regeneration process at lower temperatures than required by traditional procedures which can reduce solvent damage, 50 % energy saving was obtained using the designed contactor. In the next step, aqueous blended AMP/MEA solutions with two different ratios were assessed. For a 20 wt% AMP + 10 wt% MEA solution at 0.25 mL/min, an energy saving of about 62 % was achieved as compared to the conventional method's benchmark of 30 wt% MEA.