Experimental investigation into CO2 capture from the cement plant by VPSA technology using zeolite 13X and activated carbon

Abstract

The article presents the application of the VPSA (Vacuum-Pressure Swing Adsorption) method, relying on solid adsorbents, in post -combustion CO2 capture. Tests to assess the possibility of applying the VPSA method in post-combustion CO2 capture in the cement industry were conducted in a bench-scale installation. Two types of adsorbents, namely zeolite 13X and activated carbon, were used in the tests. The obtained results indicate a potential of the VPSA technology for removing CO2 from the streams of gases coming from cement plants, chiefly owing to the high CO2 concentration, which translates directly into a higher CO2 recovery and a purity possible to be attained in a one-stage VPSA process. The increasing the installation's output by raising the feed gas flow rate reduces the carbon dioxide recovery from the flue gas, however, it allows higher CO2 purities to be attained, and vice versa. The effectiveness of the CO2 capture process is also influenced by the adsorption time. Both for activated carbon and for zeolite 13X, CO2 purity increases with increasing adsorption time.When comparing the CO2 purity results obtained under identical process conditions for activated carbon and zeolite 13X, it can be noticed that higher CO2 purities were obtained for using zeolite 13X.