Intensification of CO2 absorption and desorption by metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles in bubble columns

Abstract In this study, four different metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles including CuO, Fe3O4, ZnO and SiO2 were employed to improve CO2 absorption and desorption in MDEA-based nanofluid. CO2 absorption experiment with various nanofluids was done in a bubble column reactor at ambient temperature. Also, CO2 stripping experiments for all nanofluids were done at 60 and 70 oC. The influence of nanoparticles type, nanoparticle concentration, and the stability of nanoparticles were studied on both CO2 absorption and stripping. The obtained results revealed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles at 0.01 wt.% concentration had the best influence on CO2 absorption and it improved the CO2 loading up to 36%. Also, CO2 stripping experiments for all nanofluids were done at 60 and 70 oC. The desorption experiments illustrated that metallic nanoparticles can be more efficient in improving CO2 desorption. In CO2 desorption, the CuO nanoparticles at 0.05 wt.% had higher efficiency, and enhanced CO2 concentration at outlet gas phase up to 44.2 vol.% at 70 oC.