ABSORBING COMPOSITION COMPRISING CYCLIC AMINES FOR REMOVAL OF ACID GAS

An absorption medium for removing acid gases from a fluid stream comprises an aqueous solution of A) at least one cyclic amine compound having solely tertiary amine groups and/or sterically hindered secondary amine groups and B) at least one cyclic amine compound having at least one sterically unhindered secondary amine group. The absorption medium comprises, e.g., an aqueous solution of A) 1-hydroxyethylpiperidine and/or triethylenediamine and B) piperazine. The absorption medium is particularly suitable for separating off carbon dioxide from flue gases and satisfies the following criteria: (i) sufficient capacity at low CO2 partial pressures; (ii) sufficiently rapid absorption rate at low CO2 partial pressures; (iii) stability toward oxygen; (iv) low vapor pressure for reducing solvent losses; and (v) low energy requirement for regeneration of the absorption medium.