A comparative study of carbon dioxide capture capabilities between methanol solvent and aqueous monoethanol amine solution

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering 2011, 28(1), 130, pp.22-26
• Main Authors: Kim, Dong Min, Cho, Jungho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; 화학공학
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-010-0419-9

Simulations have been performed to compare the performance of CO 2 capture power between 98.5 wt% methanol solvent and 30 wt% MEA aqueous solution. A general purpose chemical process simulator, PRO/II with PROVISION release 8.3 was used for the modeling of CO 2 capture process. For the simulation of CO 2 capture process using methanol as a solvent, NRTL liquid activity coefficient model was used for the estimation of the liquid phase non-idealities, Peng-Robinson equation of state model was selected for the prediction of vapor phase non-idealities, and Henry’s law option was chosen for the prediction of the solubilities of light gases in methanol and water solvents. Amine special thermodynamic package built-in PRO/II with PROVISION release 8.3 was used for the modeling of CO 2 capture process using MEA aqueous solution. We could conclude that the 30 wt% of MEA aqueous solution showed better performance than the 98.5 wt% methanol solvent in CO 2 capture capability. Through this study, we tried to compare the differences between the two processes from the aspects of capital and operating costs using a commercial process simulator. This will guide the optimal process design in the carbon dioxide capture process.