Carbon dioxide absorption using amine solution

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) which contributes to 80% of greenhouse gaseous can cause global warming. Moreover, CO2 emission may create environmental and public health issues if no further action taken to prevent or reduce it. Nowadays, among the most effective and economic CO2 removal is by using amine solutions, for example MEA and TEA in aqueous solution. Hence, the purpose of this research study is to investigate the potential of carbon dioxide absorption by using amine solution based on different parameters which include solution flow rate, air flow rate and concentration of amine solutions in the absorption unit. The CO2 will flow through the gas absorption column and in parallel, amine solvent flow through that column counter currently with the gas. Three different concentrations of amine solvents were used and the readings were recorded every 5 minutes. It was found that, as the amine solution flow rate increased, the percentage of CO2 absorbed decreased. In addition, increasing the air flow rate decreases the percentage of CO2 absorbed which is found proportional to the former results. From this research, optimum CO2 absorbed is 3.68% when MEA concentration is 1.0 M, solution flow rate is 1 GPM and air flow rate is 1.0 SCFM.