Optimization Study of CO2 Gas Absorption with NaOH Absorbent Continuous System in Raschig Ring Packing Column Using Box–Behnken Design

Abstract

Increasing CO2 gas emissions results in climate change by increasing air temperature and worsening environmental problems. It is necessary to control CO2 gas in the air to overcome this. This research aims to optimize the absorption of CO2 gas in the air with 0.1 M NaOH absorbent in the tower of the Raschig ring stuffing material using the response surface methodology (RSM). This research was conducted using a continuous system of three independent variables by varying the contact time (10–80 min), the flow rate of NaOH absorbent (2–5 L/min), and the flow rate of CO2 gas (1–5 L/min). The response variables in this study were the absorption rate (L/min) and mass transfer coefficient, while the air flow rate was constant at 20 L/min. Air and CO2 gas mix before absorption occurs and flow into the Raschig ring packing column so that contact occurs with the NaOH absorbent. Mass transfer of CO2 gas occurs into the NaOH absorbent, resulting in absorption. The results showed that the effect of contact time (min), the flow rate of NaOH absorbent (L/min), and CO2 gas flow rate individually and the interaction on CO2 absorption rate and mass transfer coefficient were very significant at a p-value of 0.05. Chemical absorption of CO2 also occurred due to the reaction between CO2 and OH- to form CO32− and HCO3−, so the pH decreased, and the reaction was a function of pH. Optimization using Design Expert 13 RSM Box–Behnken Design (BBD) yielded optimal conditions at an absorption time of 80 min, NaOH absorbent flow rate of 5 L/min, CO2 gas flow rate of 5 L/min, absorption rate of CO2 gas of 3.97 L/min, and CO2 gas mass transfer coefficient of 1.443 mol/min m2 atm, with the desirability of 0.999 (≈100%).