Chemical Absorption of CO2 Enhanced by Solutions of Alkali Hydroxides and Alkoxides at Room Temperature

Abstract This article presents the study of CO 2 capture through aqueous solutions with high basicity conditions. Systematic experiments were conducted to assess the performance of alcohols mixed with aqueous alkaline hydroxides for carbon dioxide capture. Alcohols can work as a catalyst in the capture of CO 2 providing greater basicity, a lower surface tension, and an amphiphilic character in the polar aqueous solvent/ (nonpolar CO 2 and N 2 ) gas mixture interface, and a lower temperature of solvent regeneration. The results showed that short‐chain alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, and alkaline metals of greater molar mass (i. e., K compared to Na) can produce greater basicity and a higher CO 2 absorption rate in the mixtures than conventional aqueous solutions such as ammonia or monoethanolamine in the same concentration. DFT calculations of electronic and thermodynamic properties for CO 2 absorption reactions were carried out to analyze the nucleophilic trend of the short‐chain alkoxides studied. The volumetric proportion between water and alcohol, as well as the concentration of alkaline hydroxide, influences the rate of CO 2 absorption, the temperature of regeneration and volatility of the solvent, and the formation of precipitates. CO 2 absorption rates greater than 90 % v/v and solvent regeneration temperatures of approximately 78 °C were achieved using ethanol, water, and KOH.