Dynamics and mass transfer characteristics of CO2 absorption into MEA/[Bmim][BF4] aqueous solutions in a microchannel

The evolution of the size and velocity of CO2 bubble absorbed into MEA/[Bmim][BF4] aqueous solutions was in-line investigated by a high-speed camera. The coupling effect between the variation of volume and the velocity of bubbles was highlighted. According to the evolution of average mass transfer coefficient, the mass transfer performance in the whole flow process was studied. The results indicated that both the length and velocity of bubble decreased gradually in the flow process due to mass transfer. A linear correlation between the relative velocity (the ratio of average bubble velocity to two-phase superficial velocity) and the relative lost length (the ratio of the lost length to the initial length) was proposed. The increase in overall liquid-phase volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) at higher gas flow rate could be ascribed to the shorter residence time and larger specific surface area. While the increase of kLa at higher liquid flow rate and MEA or [Bmim][BF4] concentration was resulted from intensified mass transfer. An empirical correlation of overall liquid-phase volumetric mass transfer coefficient was proposed taking the gas-phase Reynolds number, liquid-phase Reynolds number and Damköhler number into account.