Novel Physical Solvents for Selective CO2 Capture from Fuel Gas Streams at Elevated Pressures and Temperatures

Three perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), PP10, PP11, and PP25, manufactured by F2 Chemicals Ltd., U.K., were investigated as physical solvents for selective CO2 capture from synthesis gas or syngas streams at elevated pressures and temperatures. The equilibrium solubility, the hydrodynamic, and the mass-transfer parameters of CO2 in the solvents were measured in a 4-L ZipperClave agitated reactor under wide ranges of operating conditions: pressures (6−30 bar), temperatures (300−500 K), mixing speeds (10−20 Hz), and liquid heights (0.14−0.22 m). The CO2 solubilities in the three solvents decreased with an increasing temperature at constant pressure and followed Henry’s law. The CO2 solubilities in PP25 were greater than those in PP10 and PP11. The volumetric liquid-side mass-transfer coefficients (kLa) of CO2 in the PFCs increased with mixing speed, pressure, and temperature. Also, the gas−liquid interfacial areas of CO2 in the three PFCs appeared to control the behavior of kLa. This study proved the thermal...