ABSORPTION OF CO2 INTO AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF STERICALLY HINDERED METHYL AMINOETHANOL USING A HYDROPHOBIC MICROPOROUS HOLLOW FIBER CONTAINED CONTACTOR

Abstract

ABSTRACT The absorption of dilute CO2 into aqueous solutions of sterically hindered 2-methyl aminoethanol (MAE) and the desorption of CO2 from CO2-loaded MAE solutions into N2 stream were investigated separately for the various combinations of operational variables, using a hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) contained gas-liquid contactor with aqueous solutions of MAE as liquid media in the shell side at 30°C. The absorption of CO2 in this contactor is governed by resistance in the liquid and hollow fiber phases. The resistance to diffusion in the hollow fiber phase amounts to 76–80% of the total resistance. Nevertheless, the absorption rates of CO2 into aqueous MAE solutions in this contactor are higher than those into aqueous solutions of sterically hindered 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) in the stirred tank with a plane unbroken gas-liquid interface. The process of desorption of CO2 from CO2-loaded MAE solutions can be regarded as being controlled by diffusion and chemical reaction in both the stagnant film of the liquid phase and the liquid-filled pore of the hollow fiber phase under the slow or intermediate reaction regime. Both absorption and desorption rates under the simultaneous absorption-desorption operation in a single unit tend to approach the respective constant values as process time elapses. The total absorption rate here seems to be almost balanced with the total desorpion rate at the constant mass transfer rate periods.