CO2 capture using ionic liquid-based hybrid solvents from experiment to process evaluation

The CO2 absorption capacity in three hybrid solvents based on butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Bmim][OAc]) and three different cosolvents (Dimethyl ethers of polyethylene glycol (DEPG250), propylene carbonate, and water) was investigated and compared, and [Bmim][OAc]-DEPG250 shows the highest CO2 absorption capacity. The effects of the mass ratio of [Bmim][OAc]-DEPG250 and temperature on their CO2 absorption capacity, density, and viscosity were further investigated. In addition, the absorption capacities of N2 and CO2 in [Bmim][OAc]-DEPG250 with the simulated flue gas as a feed gas were studied and compared with that using the pure gas as a feed gas. Thermodynamic models were used to represent the experimental data, and then process simulation and evaluation were carried out. The results show that the addition of DEPG250 dramatically decreases the viscosity, while the absorption capacity of hybrid solvents is still comparable with pure [Bmim][OAc]. The type of gas stream, that is, pure gas or gas mixture, has a negligible effect on the N2 and CO2 absorption capacity. The simulation results show that [Bmim][OAc]-DEPG250 only utilizes less than 50% of the heating duty of aqueous amine solution because of the low-pressure desorption and preheating with waste heat in this hybrid solvent-based process. The CO2 capture cost of using this [Bmim][OAc]-DEPG250 reduces by 11% compared with that of using aqueous amine solution due to the significant decrease (by 52%) in utility cost.