(45a) The Importance of CO2 Absorption/Desorption Standardization

The vast emissions of greenhouse gases, specifically CO₂, has reached unparalleled levels these past few years, directly catalyzing pollution and global warming effects. These catastrophic changes accentuate the necessity of carbon capture technologies. Absorption of CO₂ is the most favored method because its versatility allows it to adapt to different scenarios, including each of the three carbon capture methods: pre-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and post-combustion. However, the high cost and energy requirement of the chemical absorption of CO₂ in an amine sorbent has led to larger developments in adsorption processes instead, severely promoting a lack of standardized methods for the absorption/desorption process. At SwRI, a standard process of CO₂ absorption and desorption is being developed and optimized, including the designation of the most efficient solvent, to reduce costs while increasing absorption capacity and regeneration of the amine solvent through desorption. This discussion will emphasize the high CO₂ capture efficiency advantage as well as the need and efforts towards standardization of the absorption/desorption process in real-world applications.