Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Capture Nucleation and Growth of Particulates in Ethanolamine-Based Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Columns

Dhawal Shah*, Ablay Saparov, Ulan Mansurov, Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ethanolamines have traditionally been used for capturing CO2 in a post-combustion carbon capture column. However, the use of ethanolamines, due to their high volatility and solvent losses, is not sustainable. One of the ways in which the solvent loss occurs is in the form of aerosols from the top of the column. The mechanism, rate of nucleation, growth rate, and interaction leading to the formation of aerosols, although essential for better process design, remain obscure. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we herein, analyze the formation of aerosols in columns based on aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA), aqueous methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), and their mixtures, using reference, pilot-scale, and industrial-scale data. In particular, the nucleation rate and cluster growth analyses were performed for five different cases. The results show that CO2 concentration had a strong influence on the rate of aerosol formation, a factor that can be easily controlled for better process design. Moreover, the interactions within the formed aerosols were mainly dominated by CO2-water interactions. Taken together, our results and analysis contribute toward a better understanding of aerosol formation and present some practical value, namely, calculated nucleation rates and particulate growth rates can be used in process simulators to account for solvent losses, factors that were identified as contributing to formation of particulate matter can be controlled and adjusted in design process simulations and in real plants, providing better performance of post-combustion carbon capture columns and thus suggest ways to prevent solvent loss.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3213-3220
Number of pages8
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume59
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 19 2020
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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