Influence of a Second Liquid Phase upon Carbon Dioxide Chemical Absorption

Abstract

Abstract This work analyzes carbon dioxide mass transfer rate during chemical absorption from a gas phase to a liquid–liquid system based on an aqueous phase (glucosamine or pyrrolidine solutions) and an organic one. Two different kinds of silicone oil with different viscosity were used to perform the liquid phases, and it allows the analysis of the influence of this variable upon mass transfer rate. In these systems, a surfactant (Tween80) was added to stabilize the liquid–liquid system, and therefore, the influence of the presence of this surfactant in the liquid phase was studied. This substance produces a positive effect upon carbon dioxide absorption rate in glucosamine aqueous solutions, but the opposite effect was observed for the other amine employed in this work. Also, the influence caused by different operation variables, such as the gas flow-rate fed to the bubble contactor or the silicone oil concentration in the liquid phase, was studied.