PRESSURE SWING ABSORPTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN PROPYLENE CARBONATE SOLUTIONS

The rates Of CO2 desorption from supersaturated propylene carbonate solutions were investigated at temperature range (293.15 divided by 323.15) K using laboratory reaction calorimeter. Measurements were based on a batch isothermal absorption in the agitated vessel and subsequent desorption, which was initialized by the pressure release in the system. Based on the measured values of pressure change, the desorption rate was determined and compared with the absorption rate at the same driving force. The obtained results show that the CO2 desorption rate increases with increasing supersaturation, stirring speed and temperature. Two distinct mechanisms of desorption were observed depending on the supersaturation of the solution. For low supersaturations, the desorption process can be regarded as a reverse one to the absorption. The desorption rate under bubbling conditions was significantly greater than the absorption rate for the same driving force. The present finding would be helpful for design considerations of the regeneration step in several industrial processes for separating CO2 based on physical solvents. Although this study has provided an improved understanding of the desorption process, issues related to the quantitative description of the desorption kinetics under bubbling conditions need to be studied further.