Rate of CO2 transfer to loaded MEA solutions using a membrane contactor device

Rates of carbon dioxide (CO2) transfer from a gas phase to loaded monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions were experimentally investigated for a wide range of operating conditions (CO2 partial pressure, MEA concentration, CO2 loading, temperature) using a membrane contactor in order to assess the best operating settings. Simultaneously a simple diffusion/reaction mathematical model was set up which, by making use of published physical and chemical parameters, described in a more than satisfactory manner the observed process rates.