Experimental study on equilibrium solubility (at low partial pressures), density, viscosity and corrosion rate of carbon dioxide in aqueous solutions of ascorbic acid

In this paper, ascorbic acid as a new carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbent was investigated. The equilibrium solubility of CO2 into 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mol dm−3 (M) aqueous ascorbic acid solutions were measured experimentally with a stirred batch reactor at total atmospheric pressure over the CO2 partial pressure ranging from 0 to 45 kPa and temperatures between 298 and 313 K. The results of the gas solubility are presented as loading capacity (mol CO2/mol ascorbic acid) as function of partial pressure of CO2 for all experimental runs. Experimental results showed that solubility of CO2 increases with increase in molar concentration of ascorbic acid solution at a given temperature and decreases with increase in temperature at a given concentration. The densities and viscosities of the ascorbic acid solutions were measured at the same conditions of the solubility measurement. Some corrosion rate tests were also performed on carbon steel at temperature of 308 K. It was observed that viscosity and corrosion rate increase when the molar concentration of ascorbic acid solution increases.

► We investigate ascorbic acid as a new chemical absorbent for carbon dioxide (CO2).
► We measure solubility of CO2 into 0.5, 1 and 1.5 M ascorbic acid solutions at 298, 308 and 313 K.
► Solubility of CO2 increases with increase in molar concentration of ascorbic acid.
► Solubility of CO2 decreases with increase in temperature.
► Viscosity and corrosion rate increase with increase in molar concentration of ascorbic acid.