Process simulation and analysis of carbon capture with an aqueous mixture of ionic liquid and monoethanolamine solvent

Abstract

This study investigated the prospect of using aqueous mixture of 1-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate ([Bpy][BF 4 ]) ionic liquid (IL) and monoethanolamine (MEA) as solvent in post-combustion CO 2 capture (PCC) process. This is done by analysis of the process through modelling and simulation. In literature, reported PCC models with a mixture of IL and MEA solvent were developed using equilibrium-based mass transfer approach. In contrast, the model in this study is developed using rate-based mass transfer approach in Aspen Plus Ò . From the results, the mixed aqueous solvent with 5-30 wt% IL and 30 wt% MEA showed 7%-9% and 12%-27% less specific regeneration energy and solvent circulation rate respectively compared to commonly used 30 wt% MEA solvent. It is concluded that the IL concentration (wt%) in the solvent blend have significant impact on specific regeneration energy and solvent circulation rate. This study is a starting point for further research on technical and economic analysis of PCC process with aqueous blend of IL and MEA as solvent.

Current status and future development of solvent-based carbon capture

“…These drawbacks of MEA has been addressed through development of new solvents which include mixed amine solvents such as mixtures of MEA and MDEA, AMP and PZ among others (Dubois and Thomas 2012), ammoniabased solvents (Darde et al 2010), amino acid solvent (Brouwer et al 2005), biphasic solvents (Raynal et al 2011) and ionic liquid-based solvents (Boot-Handford et al 2014;Zacchello et al 2016). The new solvents have shown great potential.…”

Process analysis and economic evaluation of mixed aqueous ionic liquid and monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent for CO2 capture from a coke oven plant

“…Their results showed that [Bpy][BF4]−MEA solvent reduces the heat duty and the capture cost by 15% and 11% respectively compared to reference MEA solvent (i.e., 30 wt% MEA solution). Zacchello et al . presented a rate‐based, solvent‐based capture model for [Bpy][BF4]−MEA hybrid solvent .…”

“…Zacchello et al . presented a rate‐based, solvent‐based capture model for [Bpy][BF4]−MEA hybrid solvent . The model was used to investigate the impact of the IL fraction in the mixed solvent on solvent circulation rate and reboiler duty for CO 2 capture from a coke‐oven plant.…”

“…and used to investigate the impact of IL fractions in mixed IL and MEA solvents on solvent circulation rate and reboiler duty. The effect of IL fractions on other critical operating variables and operating cost to support the conclusions in Zacchello et al . is yet to be reported.…”

“…Zacchello et al . introduced rate‐based a model for hybrid IL solvent but relied on default property parameters in Aspen Plus ® . The new aspects discussed in this study are summarized as follows: An improved rate‐based model for the process.…”