Absorption of CO2 into aqueous solutions of MEA and AMP in a wetted wall column with film promoter

•The CO2 absorption process into MEA, AMP and their respective mixture was studied in a wetted wall column with film promoter.•The interfacial area of the column is higher when using the film promoter.•The film promoter improves spreading of the liquid stream on the inner wall of the column.•We report on the absorption rate in MEA, which is higher in relation to AMP.•The thermodynamical-kinetic parameter for the absorption process in MEA and AMP varies slightly in function of the liquid load.

The process for removing CO2 from a gas mixture can be achieved by absorption into amines through of different conventional techniques. But, the report of mass transfer parameters that can be used for process design is limited. Thus, a study of CO2 absorption process into monoethanolamine (MEA), 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) and their respective blend were developed with the aim of evaluating the absorption performance and of determining a design parameter for a single-amine absorption system. The experimental tests were carried out in a wetted wall column employing a film promoter, a thin stainless steel woven. The experimental device was operated in countercurrent and the different tests were developed at 298 K, atmospheric pressure, a constant gas load (10% CO2) and three different liquid loads. The results show that the interfacial area is influenced by increasing the liquid load. The KGa values of MEA and the blend based on it are higher in relation to AMP. Moreover, the results of the thermodynamical-kinetic parameter show that this absorption process is independent of liquid load, characteristic of rapid chemical reactions. The KGa value for the different MEA:AMP mixtures shows that it increases when the MEA proportion is increased in the blend.