Parametric studies of carbon dioxide absorption into highly concentrated monoethanolamine solutions

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorption into highly concentrated solutions of monoethanolamine (MEA) was studied. The effect of operating parameters on the overall mass transfer coefficient (K_Ga_v) was determined in a pilot‐plant scale absorption unit. The (K_Ga_v) increased at low solution concentrations, decreased at intermediate concentrations, and increased as the concentration became high (54 wt%). The (K_Ga_v) increased with an increasing liquid flow rate, decreased with an increase in either the CO₂ loading or the CO₂ partial pressure, and was not affected by the inert gas flow rate. Finally, structured 4A Gempak packing produced (K_Ga_v) values twice as high as randomly packed IMTP#15 or 16‐mm Pall Ring systems.