CO2 absorption/desorption rates in aqueous DEEA/MDEA and sulfolane-contained hybrid solutions: effects of physical properties and reaction rate

The rates of CO 2 absorption into fresh and regenerated aqueous solutions of N,N-diethylethanolamine (DEEA), N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), and their mixture with sulfolane are investigated in a batch stirred cell reactor. The data are obtained in the temperature range of 293.15–313.15 K, pressures up to 800 kPa, and different concentrations of alkanolamines and sulfolane. The diffusion coefficients and Henry’s law constants for all the solutions are obtained. The absorption rate of DEEA solutions increased by increasing component concentrations and pressure, but the effects of temperature on the absorption rates of hybrid and aqueous DEEA solutions are different. Comparison of absorption rates in aqueous and hybrid solutions under the same conditions can determine the role of sulfolane as the physical solvent. It has been found that sulfolane acts as an effective absorption activator in the hybrid DEEA solutions. However, in the MDEA solutions, in all experimental conditions except for high pressure ( ≥ 400 kPa) and certain MDEA concentration (20 wt%), sulfolane has a negative effect on the absorption rate. The absorption rates of regenerated aqueous DEEA solutions are in the range of 50.5–87.7% of fresh ones, while these values for the hybrid DEEA solution are in the range of 75–90.5%. These values for the aqueous and hybrid MDEA solutions are almost equal. Based on the values of Hatta number and enhancement factor, the CO 2 absorption regime in the DEEA solutions is determined as the fast second-order reaction. The absorption rate can be interpreted considering the tradeoff between kinetics and thermodynamics of CO 2 absorption in the aqueous and hybrid DEEA/MDEA solutions. The desorption rates in hybrid DEEA/MDEA solutions are higher than those in aqueous solutions. Graphical abstract