CO2 Capture Using Amine Solution Mixed with Ionic Liquid

Abstract

It is a focus to reduce the energy consumption and operating cost of CO2 capture from low-pressure flue gas streams of power plants using an aqueous amine-based absorbent. In this study, CO2 capture experiments were conducted in an absorption–desorption loop system using amine-based absorbents. The gas mixture containing CO2, O2, SO2, and N2 in the composition range of flue gas from coal-fired power plant after flue gas desulfurization was selected as the feed gas. For an aqueous amine solution, the largest contribution to monoethanolamine (MEA) loss was made by evaporation during desorption, followed by the formation of sulfate and heat-stable salts. To reduce MEA loss and meanwhile decrease the energy consumption during CO2 desorption, an aqueous amine solution mixed with ionic liquid (30 wt % MEA + 40 wt % [bmim][BF4] + 30 wt % H2O) was proposed. The energy consumption of the mixed ionic liquid solution for absorbent regeneration was 37.2% lower than that of aqueous MEA solution. The MEA loss per ton of captured CO2 for the mixed solution was 1.16 kg, which is much lower than that of 3.55 kg for the aqueous amine solution. No ionic liquid loss was detected. In addition, the mixed ionic liquid solution showed a low viscosity of 3.54 mPa s at 323 K, indicating that the ionic liquid disadvantage of high viscosity can be overcome for absorbent delivery of CO2 capture.