CO₂ capture by ethanolamines functionalized resins: amination and kinetics of adsorption in a fixed bed

The main aim of this manuscript was to investigate the effect of amine (MEA, DEA and TEA) functionalization of high surface area supports (Amberlite IR120H, Ambersep 252H, Amberlite 200CNa and Amberlite XAD7HP) on adsorption of CO₂ from gases streams. A saturated factorial design of experiments was initially applied to determine the influence of four amine impregnation variables on amine loading. Except for the amine concentration whose effect was significantly positive on the amount of ethanolamine impregnated in Amberlite XAD7HP (p ≤ 0.05), the other factors had negligible importance. Kinetic experiments of CO₂ adsorption were performed in a fixed bed at different inlet concentrations of CO₂ and temperatures. The amounts of adsorbed CO₂ on the DEA enriched Ambersep 252H, Amberlite 200CNa and Amberlite XAD7HP at bed saturation were ~ 40–400 times as high as those obtained with the same adsorbents without impregnation. DEA enriched Amberlite IR120H and TEA functionalized resins presented small capacities to adsorb CO₂ at the investigated conditions, while MEA enriched resins were effective as CO₂ adsorbents in the case of impregnation in Amberlite 200CNa. A classical fundamental model described correctly the breakthrough curves for CO₂ adsorption–desorption at concentrations of CO₂ in the gas feed stream of 1%, 3% and 5% at 40 °C and 60 °C.