Enhanced CO2 absorption and desorption in a tertiary amine medium with a carbonic anhydrase mimic

[Display omitted] We report the effects of a series of carbonic anhydrase (CA) model complexes on CO2 absorption and desorption in an aqueous tertiary amine medium. The CO2 hydration efficiency was determined under basic conditions by using stopped-flow kinetics experiments. Catalyst 6 was found to exhibit the best CO2 hydration efficiency (3.130×103M−1s−1) in the tertiary amine medium. In a highly concentrated tertiary amine medium, catalyst 2 was found to enhance the absorption and regeneration efficiency of CO2 by 10% and 24%, respectively. Our results for simple CA model complexes indicate that possible usage of synthesized complexes in post-combustion process.