Mass Transfer studies for CO2 absorption into carbitol acetate as an effective physical absorbent using a laboratory-scale packed column

Carbitol acetate (CA) could be a remarkable for CO2 absorption due to its high boiling point, low viscosity, and high COMA Scenario-1-RM/P2/PX solubility. Using a laboratory-scale Raschig ring packed-column, mass transfer studies of COMA Scenario-1-RM/P2/PX in carbitol acetate have been performed at ambient temperature and pressure. Liquid and gas side physical individual mass transfer coefficients (k(L)(0)a, k(c)(0)a) were determined by oxygen desorption method and by sulfur dioxide absorption into sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH), respectively. Also, gas side overall chemical and physical mass transfer coefficients (K(c)a, K(c)(0)a) were experimentally determined by the CO2 absorption into NaOH solution and CA. Results show that Kca and K(c)(0)a increase with increasing gas and liquid velocities. The results also showed that (K(c)(0)a)CA and (K(c)a)NaOH were 2.2 and 2.5 times greater than that of water, respectively. It is known that the chemical absorption mechanism is more effective than the physical absorption mechanism. According to the (K(c)(0)a)water comparison, (K(c)(0)a)CA and (K(c)a)NaOH have almost shown close results. Carbitol acetate has been shown to be a potential absorbent for CO2 absorption process and could be a viable alternative with further research and development. Also, nonlinear regression analyses were performed, and correlations were developed for mass transfer coefficients.