Analysis of K2CO3/Al2O3 CO2 sorbent tested with coal-fired power plant flue gas: Effect of SOx

The mass produced K2CO3/Al2O3 sorbents were tested for their CO2 sorption capacity by a 2000 Nm3/h (0.5 MW) CO2 capture pilot plant, which was built for unit 3 of Hadong thermal power station in 2010. After the commissioning, CO2 capture pilot plant was tested with the flue gas from the power station for 60 days. To assess the effect of SOx in the flue gas of coal-fired power plant on the sorbent, the new and used K2CO3/Al2O3 sorbents were analyzed by FE-SEM, IC, EPMA, XRD and XPS. The results show that SOx of 10–40 ppm in flue gas was reacted with K2CO3, but not with any other support materials, and formed K2SO4. And also, it is proved that the formed K2SO4 was quite stable in the range of 180–550 °C.

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► The mass produced K2CO3/Al2O3 CO2 sorbents were tested by 0.5 MWe CO2 capture pilot plant.
► After the commissioning, pilot plant was tested with the flue gas from the power station for 60 days.
► The effect of SOx in the flue gases on the sorbent was assessed by FE-SEM, IC, EPMA, XRD and XPS.
► SOx of 10–40 ppm in flue gas was reacted with K2CO3 and formed K2SO4.
► It is proved that the formed K2SO4 was quite stable at 180–550 °C by various chemical analyses.