Post-combustion CO2 capture by aqueous ammonia: A state-of-the-art review

CO2 emission by fossil fuel combustion has been considered as a leading contribution to the increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and the global greenhouse effect. As a chemical absorption method and technology to control CO2 from post-combustion flue gas, CO2 capture by aqueous ammonia is paid more and more attention for its advantages of high efficiency, low investment and convenient operation. In this paper, the advances in fundamental research on post-combustion CO2 capture by aqueous ammonia, focusing on the process chemistry, effect of reaction parameters on absorption efficiency, absorption process intensification and simultaneous capture with other pollutants, were critically summarized and reviewed. In addition, future potential in research and development of CO2 absorption by aqueous ammonia were also briefly prospected and discussed.

► Advances and perspectives in post-combustion CO2 capture with aqueous ammonia.
► Process chemistry of NH3–CO2–H2O is investigated in detail.
► Effects of key reaction parameters on absorption efficiency are discussed.
► Absorption can be significantly intensified using physical and chemical methods.
► Simultaneous capture of multi-pollutants is feasible if the pre-oxidization is used.