Evaluating the Performance of Micro-Encapsulated CO ₂ Sorbents during CO ₂ Absorption and Regeneration Cycling [CO2 Absorption and Regeneration Cycling with Micro-Encapsulated CO2 Sorbents (MECS)]

Journal Article · Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b06442· OSTI ID:1515329

Knipe, Jennifer M.  ^[1]; Chavez, Kathya P. ^[2]; Hornbostel, Katherine M. ^[3]; Worthington, Matthew A. ^[1]; Nguyen, Du T. ^[1]; Ye, Congwang ^[1]; Bourcier, William L. ^[1]; Baker, Sarah E. ^[1]; Brennecke, Joan F.  ^[4]; Stolaroff, Joshuah K. ^[1]

---

1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)
3. Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
4. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

We encapsulated six solvents with novel physical and chemical properties for CO₂ sorption within gas-permeable polymer shells, creating Micro-Encapsulated CO₂ Sorbents (MECS), to improve the CO₂ absorption kinetics and handling of the solvents for postcombustion CO₂ capture from flue gas. The solvents were sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solution, uncatalyzed and with two different promoters, two ionic liquid (IL) solvents, and one CO₂-binding organic liquid (CO₂BOL). We subjected each of the six MECS to multiple CO₂ absorption and regeneration cycles and measured the working CO₂ absorption capacity as a function of time to identify promising candidate MECS for large-scale carbon capture. We discovered that the uncatalyzed Na₂CO₃ and Na₂CO₃-sarcosine MECS had lower CO₂ absorption rates relative to Na₂CO₃-cyclen MECS over 30 min of absorption, while the CO₂BOL Koechanol appeared to permeate through the capsule shell and is thus unsuitable. Here, we rigorously tested the most promising three MECS (Na₂CO₃-cyclen, IL NDIL0309, and IL NDIL0230) by subjecting each of them to a series of 10 absorption/stripping cycles. The CO₂ absorption curves were highly reproducible for these three MECS across 10 cycles, demonstrating successful absorption/regeneration without degradation. As the CO₂ absorption rate is dynamic in time and the CO₂ loading per mass varies among the three most promising MECS, the process design parameters will ultimately dictate the selection of MECS solvent.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344; FE0026465
• OSTI ID: 1515329
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-746767; 931464
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 53, Issue 5; ISSN 0013-936X
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY