Experimental Investigation of Use of Monoethanolamine with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in a 10 kg per Day Pilot CO2 Capture Plant: Implications for Commercialization

Abstract

This study explores enhancements in CO2 capture and release using monoethanolamine (MEA) combined with iron oxide nanoarticles (IONPs) in a 10 kg per day pilot CO2 capture plant. Previous studies highlighted the potential of nanoparticle additives to improve CO2 capture via modeling and batch experiments; however, robust experimental evidence at the pilot scale is necessary for commercialization. This pilot plant employed a thermal swing process using synthetic CO2–flue gas mixtures, conditioning systems, and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)-based controls for heating, operation, and data acquisition. IONPs, synthesized through chemical precipitation and characterized by XRD and HR-SEM, were integrated into MEA at concentrations of 0.0001% w/v (1 ppm), 0.001% w/v (10 ppm), and 0.002% w/v (20 ppm). Their electromagnetic properties enhanced mass transfer during absorption and significantly reduced heat demand during stripper desorption. Higher concentrations of IONPs decreased desorption temperatures by up to 7 °C, resulting in estimated energy savings of approximately 10–15%, while achieving CO2 loading rates up to 0.34 mol CO2/mol MEA. Structural stability of the IONPs was confirmed via XRD and HR-SEM analyses following extended thermal cycling. Utilizing a common solvent and abundant catalyst, these demonstrated improvements underscore the practical scalability and commercial viability of MEA-based CO2 capture catalyzed by IONPs, particularly suitable for deployment in large-scale CO2 capture systems in high-CO2-emitting industries.