Micro-interface enhanced mass transfer sodium carbonate absorption carbon dioxide reaction

Abstract

Micro-interface intensified reactor (MIR) can be applied in series/parallel in the absorption of CO2 in industrial gases by Na2CO3 due to the ability to produce large numbers of stable microbubbles. This work focuses on the variation pattern of mass transfer characteristics parameters of the reaction gas in Na2CO3 solution under the influence of different solution properties and operating parameters in the reaction of CO2 absorption by Na2CO3. The mass transfer characteristics parameters include bubble Sauter mean diameter, gas holdup, interfacial area, liquid side mass transfer coefficient, and liquid side volume mass transfer coefficient kLa. The solution properties and operating parameters include Na2CO3 concentration (0.05–2.0 mol·L−1), superficial gas velocity (0.00221–0.01989 m·s−1), superficial liquid velocity (0.00332–0.02984 m·s−1), and ionic strength (1.42456–1.59588 mol·kg−1). And volumetric mass transfer coefficients kLa and superficial reaction rates r of the MIR and the bubble column reactor are compared in the reaction of sodium carbonate absorption of carbon dioxide, and the former shows a greater improvement under different solution properties and operating parameters. The enhanced role of MIR in mass transfer in non-homogeneous reactions is verified and the feasibility of industrial practical applications of MIR is demonstrated.