Heterogeneous catalysis of CO-diethanolamine absorption with MgCO and CaCO and comparing to non-catalytic CO-monoethanolamine interactions.

The solid catalysts, CaCO and MgCO, were adopted to accelerate CO absorption with diethanolamine (DEA) solvent. It turned out that these solid alkaline earth metal carbonates can accelerate CO absorption, with overall time reduction up to 14-28% for CaCO, and 11-28% for MgCO. After comparing CO loadings and time resolved amine concentrations, the solid chemicals can enhance the CO absorption of DEA and became compatible with the monoethanolamine (MEA) solution at the same CO loading without catalysts. The Lewis base can serve as heterogeneous catalysts for the amine scrubbing process and then facilitate CO absorption. These results indicated the heterogeneous catalysts can partly cover the shortage of DEA with CO absorption, and facilitate the amine scrubbing process with shorter column with ease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]