Assessing Impure CO2 Adsorption Capacity on Selected South African Coals: Comparative Study Using Low and High Concentrated Simulated Flue Gases

The effects of coal rank, coal composition, and pressure on the CO2 adsorption capacity of five South African coal samples were evaluated. Adsorption isotherms of the flue gases on coal were measured at 35 °C and up to a maximum pressure of 88 bar using the volumetric method. The flue gases used were simulated industrial flue gases of a coal fired plant. Adsorption tests with flue gases were conducted to study the degree of coal preferential sorption of the individual components. It was observed that adsorption capacity of CO2 onto coal is considerably reduced by the addition of other gases.