Sodium nitrate (NaNO 3 ) and other alkali nitrates are known to accelerate the CO 2 11 absorption rate of MgO above their melting points. This absorption rate is further enhanced if 12 absorption is done after partial desorption. Moreover it does not show any induction period 13 which is otherwise present if absorption is done after complete desorption. A thorough study of 14 various factors affecting the rate after partial desorption is done in this work. We exposed a 15 sample to CO 2 for several different periods before partial desorption and exposed to N 2 for 16 several different periods during partial desorption in a thermogravimetric analyzer. Absorbents 17 were also characterized by XRD, BET and SEM and studied in in-situ IR cell to understand the 18