CO2 absorption kinetics and equilibrium solubility measurements in potassium salts of renewable amino acids from plant- and animal-protein

Abstract

Aqueous solutions containing alkaline salts of natural amino acids, such as those from protein in plant seeds or high protein animal-based waste, are green CO2-separation solvents. In the present work, potassium salts of nine such amino acids were chosen for an in-depth study: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, leucine, proline, serine, and valine. The kinetics of CO2 absorption in aqueous solutions of these salts was studied using a stirred cell. From the measurements of the absorption rate at different salt concentrations (molarity 0.1 and higher), CO2 partial pressures (5–25 kPa), and temperatures (298–308 K), values of the reaction order, rate constant, and activation energy were determined. Additionally, the liquid-side mass transfer coefficient (0.005 cm/s) was also found. Potassium salts of proline, glycine, and arginine were most reactive and, hence, were chosen for equilibrium study. The loading capacity of these salts was measured at 308 K in a vapour–liquid equilibrium setup at near-ambient pressure. On the contrary, the other chosen acids were comparatively less reactive with CO2.