In the capture of CO2 through the absorption
process,
selecting the absorbent blend system based on the absorption kinetics
is crucial. This study focuses on the kinetic investigation of two
new lab-synthesized dual-functionalized ionic liquids (DFILs), namely,
T-Im and D-Im, which were employed as promoters in low-reactive aqueous
methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) solvent for making a highly CO2 absorbing blend system. Then, CO2 absorption kinetic
performance of these blends was assessed across a temperature range
of 303–328 K. The results indicated a significant enhancement
in the initial absorption rate with an increase in the DFIL concentration
(2.5–10 wt %). The overall rate constant (k
ov) values were higher in the capture using these DFILs
compared to those with the reported promoters such as monoethanolamine
(MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and piperazine (PZ). The absorption rate
followed the Arrhenius law with an activation energy of 25.61 kJ/mol
for T-Im/MDEA and 24.87 kJ/mol for D-Im/MDEA, respectively. 13C NMR characterization confirmed that carbamate formation increased
with an increasing T-Im concentration in the blend. The rate kinetic
was modeled using the termolecular, zwitterion, and base-catalyzed
hydration mechanisms. The rate equations based on the zwitterion mechanism
for the T-Im and D-Im blended absorbents were
k
2
,
normalT
−
I
m
=
2.242
×
10
9
exp
(
−
3531.09
T
)
and
k
2
,
normalD
−
I
m
=
1.11
×
10
9
exp
(
−
3504.22
T
)
, respectively. The accuracy of the rate
kinetic models expressed in terms of average absolute deviation (AAD)
was found to be in the range of 4 to 8%.