skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Determination of the effects of sulfur dioxide on recovery systems for CO/sub 2/. Final report, 1977-1980

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6952219· OSTI ID:6952219

The present study was initiated to investigate the problems associated with recovery of CO/sub 2/ from flue gases for enhanced oil recovery. In particular, the scope of this work may be stated: determine the type of impurities formed in ammonia, monoethanolamine (MEA), and potassium carbonate systems when extracting CO/sub 2/ from oxidizing flue gases containing nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides; determine the levels of impurity build-up in the solvents; estimate the impurity level in the recovered CO/sub 2/; evaluate the effect on corrosion in metals by these solvents in a flue gas environment; determine the carbon-dioxide absorption coefficients in solvents contaminated due to the pollutants present in the flue gas; evaluate the effect of particulate matter on absorption coefficients in the solvents; and recommend potential absorption systems for CO/sub 2/ from flue gas and estimate the cost of recovery. The results of this study indicate that in ammonia, ammonia sulfate is quickly formed to render that portion of the absorbent inactive. In MEA, amine sulfite and amine sulfate are the dominant impurities formed. In amine-activated potassium carbonate solutions, only sulfite and sulfate ions were found. No nitrogen-oxide species were found in any solution. The impurity levels obtained in the present experiments indicated no limit on contaminant build-up. The impurity level in the recovered CO/sub 2/ was estimated to be less than or equal to 100 ppM non-condensible gases, 20 to 200 ppM SO/sub 2/, and < 20 ppM NO/sub x. Corrosion in the absorption systems will be similar to that observed in CO/sub 2/ absorption systems from reducing gas streams. The absorption rate of CO/sub 2/ in solutions decreases with increasing loading of CO/sub 2/ in almost a linear fashion. Several alternative absorption systems were evaluated in a preliminary cost evaluation, and a K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ (EAE activated) solution was recommended.

Research Organization:
West Virginia Univ., Morgantown (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV (USA). Morgantown Energy Technology Center
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-77ET12025
OSTI ID:
6952219
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/5532-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English