(35g) Quantifying Diffusion and Reaction Contributions in Polymeric CO? Sorbents

Lewatit VP OC 1065, a commercially available resin, is recognized for its high CO₂ capture capacity and potential in carbon capture applications. To gain a deeper understanding of the transport and kinetic properties of this effective polymeric resin, a reaction-diffusion model was developed. While kinetic models for CO₂ adsorption on solid sorbents have been extensively studied, the role of diffusion—particularly in the presence of humid conditions—remains underexplored. This study uses oxidized Lewatit resins, where primary amines are deactivated, to isolate and extract the diffusion coefficient. Subsequently, the kinetic CO2 uptake data on neat Lewatit is utilized to estimate the reaction rate. These experiments were conducted at a series of temperatures to measure an activation energy of reaction and diffusion. By accounting for the interplay of diffusion and reaction, this model provides critical insights into the dynamics of CO₂ capture in Lewatit VP OC 1065, which can be used in the optimization of sorbent performance and reactor design for practical CO₂ capture applications.