(375o) Optimization of CO2 Capture Process with Aqueous Amine Using Response Surface Methodology

Amine is one of candidate solvents that can be used for CO₂ recovery from the flue gas by conventional chemical absorption/desorption process. The performance and the economics of this process depends on the choice of amine absorbent and its concentration, the number of stages in absorber and stripper columns, and the operating temperatures and pressures. In this work, we analyze the impact of different amine absorbents and their concentrations, and the absorber and stripper column heights on the cost of CO₂ absorption/desorption plant for post-combustion CO₂ removal. Monoethanolamine (MEA), diglycolamine (DGA), diethanolamine (DEA), methyl diethanolamine (MDEA), triethanolamine (TEA), and blended aqueous solutions of these amines have been considered in our analyses. For each absorbent, the optimum number of stages for the absorber and stripper columns, and the optimum absorbent concentration, , i.e., the ones that give the minimum cost for CO₂ removed, is determined by response surface optimization. The target CO₂ purity was set to 98% for all simulations. In this presentation, the results for each absorbent will be compared and discussed.