CO2 Capture by Absorption with Potassium Carbonate

Abstract

The objective of this work is to improve the process for CO{sub 2} capture by alkanolamine absorption/stripping by developing an alternative solvent, aqueous K{sub 2}CO3 promoted by piperazine (PZ). Pilot plant testing was performed in a 16.8-inch ID absorber and stripper with recirculation of air and CO{sub 2}. Three solvents (7 m MEA, 5 m K{sup +}/2.5 m PZ, and 6.4 m K{sup +}/1.6 m PZ) were tested in four campaigns with three different absorber packings. Pilot plant testing established that 5 m K{sup +}/2.5 m PZ requires two times less packing than 7 m MEA and three times less packing than 6.4 m K{sup +}/1.6 m PZ. A rigorous model of the thermodynamics and mass transfer was developed in the RateSep{trademark} block of AspenPlus{reg_sign}. The double matrix stripper reduces energy consumption by 5 to 15%. The best K{sup +}/PZ solvent, 4 m K{sup +}/4 m PZ, and the best process configuration, double matrix stripper with a double intercooled absorber, requires equivalent work of 40 kJ/mole CO{sub 2} to produce CO{sub 2} at 10 MPa. Inhibitor A is effective at reducing oxidative degradation over a wide range of metal concentrations and solvent types. Piperazine is resistant to oxidative degradation catalyzed by dissolved iron, but it oxidizes at rates comparable to monoethanolamine (MEA) in the presence of dissolved copper. The thermal degradation of MEA becomes significant at 120 C, but loaded piperazine solutions appear to be resistant to thermal degradation up to 135 C. The vapor pressure of PZ over typical lean solution at 40 C will be less than 25 ppm, which is less than the 40 ppm expected for MEA. Significant problems with foaming were encountered and alleviated by antifoamants in the pilot plant campaigns with K{sup +}/PZ. Potassium sulfate is not very soluble in 4 m K{sup +}/4 m PZ, so SO{sub 2} absorption and oxidation to sulfate in the bottom of the absorber may require operation with a slurry of potassium sulfate solids.