Optimization of an AWL reactor for carbon capture

• Main Authors: Villavert, Ricardo T., de Leon, Rizalinda L.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2011
• Subjects: Carbon sequestration; Carbon dioxide mitigation; Chemical Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13285
• Institution: De La Salle University

AWL (Advanced Weathering of Limestone) is part of CCS Technologies (Carbon Capture and Storage) that tries to curb down the level of carbon dioxide (COz) in the atmosphere at a minimal cost. CO, has been established to be the primary cause of climate change, and CCS is a mid-term approach to the problem. In AWL, CO2 reacts with limestone and water, forming bicarbonate ions that contribute minimal acidity fluctuations to water bodies. To augment the gap in previous studies, this research determined the optimum effect of gas volumetric flowrate (Qc), liquid volumetric flowrate (Qt), limestone particle size (dp), and gas temperature (Ic) to the capture of COz in an AWL reactor system using a two-level factorial design of experiment. Synthetic flue gas was mixed with water in a stainless static mixer and sent to a 2-L glass reactor filled with limestone fines. Data analysis shows that high Qi, low QG, and low p correspond to the optimum region of highest CO2 capture, while the gas temperature had no significant statistical bearing. Results obtained in this research can be used as benchmark tools in assessing the feasibility of AWL as a carbon capture technology.