Development of Superior Sorbents for Separation of CO2 from Flue Gas at a Wide Temperature range during Coal Combustion

Abstract

A number basic sorbents based on CaO were synthesized, characterized with novel techniques and tested for sorption of CO 2 and selected gas mixtures simulating flue gas from coal fired boilers. Our studies resulted in highly promising sorbents which demonstrated zero affinity for N 2 , O 2 , SO 2 , and NO very low affinity for water, ultrahigh CO 2 sorption capacities, and rapid sorption characteristics, CO 2 sorption at a very wide temperature range, durability, and low synthesis cost. One of the "key" characteristics of the proposed materials is the fact that we can control very accurately their basicity (optimum number of basic sites of the appropriate strength) which allows for the selective chemisorption of CO 2 at a wide range of temperatures. These unique characteristics of this family of sorbents offer high promise for development of advanced industrial sorbents for the effective CO 2 removal.4