Rate-based simulation and comparison of various promoters for CO2 capture in industrial DEA-promoted potassium carbonate absorption unit

•Amine promoted potassium carbonate process in tray column simulated in Aspen Plus using rate-based approach.•The proper thermodynamic, kinetic, transport, trays specifications, and hydraulic models have been considered in the modelling.•DEA, DGA, DIPA, MEA and MDEA are compared to each other as promoters in aspect of CO2 capturing and prices.•The effects of important process parameters have been investigated.

Diethanolamine (DEA)-promoted potassium carbonate process for CO2 removal is modelled using rate-based approach and Electrolyte NRTL model. Acceptable agreements between the simulation results and the experimental data are achieved. The effectiveness of monoethanolamine (MEA), diglycolamine (DGA), diisopropanolamine (DIPA), and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) as promoters are investigated. MEA shows promising performance for CO2 removal. The CO2 absorptions by DGA and DIPA are good enough, but their prices are higher than MEA and DEA. The CO2 absorption by MDEA is not significant and it cannot be used as a promoter. A parametric study is performed to assess the effects of important process parameters.