Continuous process for carbon dioxide capture using lysine and tetrabutyl phosphonium lysinate aqueous mixtures in a packed tower

Abstract

The CO2 absorption process using aqueous solutions of lysine (Lys), the ionic liquid (IL) tetrabutyl phosphonium lysinate ([TBP][Lys]) and their mixtures was studied by means of a packed tower. The performance of these systems was evaluated through the volumetric overall mass transfer coefficient (KG aV), conducting experiments under diverse conditions such as inlet CO2 concentration from 10 to 40 vol.%, gas and absorbent flow rates from 100 to 200 mL/min and from 3 to 5 mL/min, respectively, absorbent concentration from 5 to 15 wt.% and temperature from 15 to 40◦ C. The obtained results for all the previous experimental conditions were better for the IL/Lys mixture than for the isolated components; the best performance was shown by the experiment varying the absorbent concentration, where the increasing KG aV was benefited by the IL/Lys synergistic effect.