Experimental study on equilibrium solubility (at low partial pressures), density, viscosity and corrosion rate of carbon dioxide in aqueous solutions of ascorbic acid

► We investigate ascorbic acid as a new chemical absorbent for carbon dioxide (CO 2). ► We measure solubility of CO 2 into 0.5, 1 and 1.5 M ascorbic acid solutions at 298, 308 and 313 K. ► Solubility of CO 2 increases with increase in molar concentration of ascorbic acid. ► Solubility of CO 2 decreases with increase in temperature. ► Viscosity and corrosion rate increase with increase in molar concentration of ascorbic acid. In this paper, ascorbic acid as a new carbon dioxide (CO 2) absorbent was investigated. The equilibrium solubility of CO 2 into 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mol dm −3 (M) aqueous ascorbic acid solutions were measured experimentally with a stirred batch reactor at total atmospheric pressure over the CO 2 partial pressure ranging from 0 to 45 kPa and temperatures between 298 and 313 K. The results of the gas solubility are presented as loading capacity (mol CO 2/mol ascorbic acid) as function of partial pressure of CO 2 for all experimental runs. Experimental results showed that solubility of CO 2 increases with increase in molar concentration of ascorbic acid solution at a given temperature and decreases with increase in temperature at a given concentration. The densities and viscosities of the ascorbic acid solutions were measured at the same conditions of the solubility measurement. Some corrosion rate tests were also performed on carbon steel at temperature of 308 K. It was observed that viscosity and corrosion rate increase when the molar concentration of ascorbic acid solution increases.