The absorption rate of CO₂/SO₂/NO₂ into a blended aqueous AMP/ammonia solution

Abstract

The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that human activities result in the production of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O and CFCs), which significantly contribute to global warming, one of the most serious environmental problems. Under these circumstances, most nations have shown a willingness to suffer economic burdens by signing the Kyoto Protocol, which took effect from February 2005. Therefore, an innovative technology for the simultaneously removal carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), which are discharged in great quantities from fossil fuel-fired power plants and incineration facilities, must be developed to reduce these economical burdens. In this study, a blend of AMP and NH₃ was used to achieve high absorption rates for CO₂, as suggested in several publications. The absorption rates of CO₂, SO₂ and NO₂ into aqueous AMP and blended AMP+NH₃ solutions were measured using a stirred-cell reactor at 293, 303 and 313 K. The reaction rate constants were determined from the measured absorption rates. The effect of adding NH₃ to enhance the absorption characteristics of AMP was also studied. The performance of the reactions was evaluated under various operating conditions. From the results, the reactions with SO₂ and NO₂ into aqueous AMP and AMP+NH₃ solutions were classified as instantaneous reactions. The absorption rates increased with increasing reaction temperature and NH₃ concentration. The reaction rates of 1, 3 and 5 wt% NH₃ blended with 30 wt% AMP solution with respect to CO₂/SO₂/NO₂ at 313 K were 6.05∼8.49×10⁻⁶, 7.16–10.41×10⁻⁶ and 8.02∼12.0×10⁻⁶ kmol m⁻²s⁻¹, respectively. These values were approximately 32.3–38.7% higher than with aqueous AMP solution alone. The rate of the simultaneous absorption of CO₂/SO₂/NO₂ into aqueous AMP+NH₃ solution was 3.83–4.87×10⁻⁶ kmol m⁻²s⁻¹ at 15 kPa, which was an increase of 15.0–16.9% compared to 30 wt% AMP solution alone. This may have been caused by the NH₃ solution acting as an alternative for CO₂/SO₂/NO₂ controls from flue gas due to its high absorption capacity and fast absorption rate.