Electrochemically-mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) is an alternative strategy to thermal desorption for the amine scrubbing of carbon dioxide (CO2). Amine scrubbing is an effective strategy for separating CO2 from the combustion flue gases generated by coal-fired power plants. The current approach of stripping the CO2 using low-pressure steam, however, is inefficient and requires prohibitively high capital investment for practical application. EMAR, through the use of an electrochemical copper cycle, can operate at higher efficiencies and reduce capital expenditures. Because the amine stream entering the absorber can obtain loadings an order of magnitude leaner than in a thermal process, the absorber height can be reduced by 30%. Additionally, the ability to generate CO2 at pressure reduces the number of compressors required for downstream processing. Experimental results and theoretical analysis of the chemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics of the EMAR system will be presented with a focus on process efficiency.

Exploration of amine chemistries for electrochemically-mediated carbon dioxide scrubbing

245th National Meeting (2013)

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