Screening test of solid amine sorbents for CO₂ capture

In this study, the absorption properties of CO2 in seven different solid amines absorbents were measured. These solid amines made by the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Hartford used a solvent evaporation step to impregnate liquid amines into the pores of non-ionic polymeric supports. The specific characteristics, such as absorption capacity, absorption/desorption rate, cyclic capacity, cycle decay effect, temperature of reaction in absorber and optimal condition of CO2 absorption process were measured. This absorption process occurred at room temperature while the desorbing temperature was raised to 348.15K. To simulate flue gas conditions we used absorption CO2 concentrations of 15% while the total pressure remained constant at atmospheric pressure. The solid amines (TEPAN and E-100AN) demonstrated higher cyclic capacity than others under these conditions. Our testing showed high reproducibility for the CO2 capture of TEPAN and E-100AN in measuring their cyclic capacity. Diminished cyclic capacities were noted for the MEA and 194B material, with a measured drop at cycle-3 of about 18% and 11% lower than those in cycle-1, respectively. While MEA displayed a drop of 11% between cycle-1 and -2, the 194B sorbent showed a similar cyclic capacity in cycle-2 and cycle-3.