(504b) A Novel Technology for Post-Combustion CO2 Capture

Conventional method for CO2 capture from post-combustion flue gas generally employs an absorption and stripping process. The CO2 is absorbed for example in an aqueous solution of amine e.g., monoethanolamine and then stripped out in a separate tower with steam at 120^oC . Such a process is highly energy intensive. The low partial pressure of CO2 in the flue gas inhibits the application of CO2-selective membranes unless methods are employed to increase the CO2 partial pressure in the flue gas to be treated. Adsorption processes relying on adsorbent regeneration require among others the need to switch the flue gas between different columns. A number of other techniques are being studied to reduce the capital and operating costs for CO2 capture from post-combustion flue gas. We will describe a novel technique to potentially bypass the shortcomings of many existing approaches. We have employed a simulated humidified flue gas containing around 14% CO2 and demonstrated successful removal of bulk of the CO2 and its recovery in a CO2-concentrated stream.