Experimental Study of CO2 Absorption by MEA+ TiO2 Nanofluid in a Microreactor

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak, Iran

2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Energy, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kemanshah, Iran

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles as performance enhancers for CO₂ absorption in an aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solution using a microreactor system.
Materials and Methods: CO₂ absorption experiments were conducted in a T-shaped microreactor with an inner diameter of 800 μm and a length of 25 cm under atmospheric pressure, using a gas feed containing 10 mol% CO₂. The main operating parameters included temperature, solvent flow rate, gas flow rate, inlet solvent concentration (5 and 10 vol% MEA), and metal-oxide nanoparticle concentrations (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 wt%).
Results: Under the optimal operating conditions (25 °C, solvent flow rate of 200 ml/hr, and gas flow rate of 100 ml/min), the CO₂ absorption efficiencies of aqueous MEA solutions at 5 and 10 vol% were 75.6% and 84.8%, respectively. Under the same conditions, the absorption efficiencies obtained using MEA-based nanofluids (5 vol% MEA) containing 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 wt% TiO₂ nanoparticles were 80.2%, 92.1%, and 94.2%, respectively. For nanofluids prepared with 10 vol% MEA, the corresponding efficiencies were 73.5%, 87.3%, and 92.1%. The optimal nanofluid consisted of 5 vol% MEA with 0.05 wt% TiO₂, achieving a CO₂ absorption efficiency of 92.1%, corresponding to a 16.5% improvement over the base solvent without nanoparticles. FESEM images and zeta-potential results confirmed a uniform dispersion of TiO₂ nanoparticles with no significant agglomeration. The presence of active hydroxyl groups in the FTIR spectra and a zeta potential of +16.1 mV indicated moderate and sufficient stability of the nanofluid during the experiments. Visual observations over a 12-hour period also confirmed stable and homogeneous dispersion.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that adding small amounts of TiO₂ nanoparticles enhances the CO₂ absorption performance of 5 vol% MEA solutions. In contrast, a reduction in absorption efficiency was observed in 10 vol% MEA due to the higher surface tension of the base solvent. This adverse effect was mitigated at higher nanoparticle loadings (0.05 and 0.1 wt%), where TiO₂ nanoparticles improved CO₂ absorption in both 5 vol% and 10 vol% MEA solutions.

Keywords

References

 
[1] Etemad E., Ghaemi A., Shirvani M. (2015) "Rigorous Correlation for CO2 Mass Transfer Flux in Reactive Absorption Processes", International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 42: 288-295, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2015.08.011.
 
 [2] Mondal M.K., Balsora H.K., Varshney P. (2012) "Progress and Trends in CO2 Capture/Separation Technologies: A Review", Energy, 46(1): 431-441, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.08.006.
 
[3] Pashaei H., Zarandi M.N., Ghaemi A. (2017) "Experimental study and modeling of CO2 absorption into Diethanolamine solutions using stirrer bubble column", Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 121: 32-43, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2017.03.001.
 
[4] Koytsoumpa E.I., Bergins C., Kakaras E. (2018) "The CO2 Economy: Review of CO2 Capture and Reuse Technologies", Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 132:  3–16, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2017.07.029.
 
[5] Yadav S.K., Mishra G.C. (2013) "Global Energy Demand Consequences Versus Greenhouse Gases Emission", International Journal of Engineering Science, 6: 781–788.
 
[6] Bajpai A., Mondal  M.K. (2013) "Equiliberium solobility of  CO2 in aqueous mixtures of DEA and AEE", Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, 58(6): 1490-1495, https://doi.org/10.1021/je3011776.
 
[7] Zhang Z.E., Yan Y.F., Zhang L., Ju S.X. (2014) "Hollow fiber membrane contactor absorption of CO2 from the flue gas: review and prespective", Global NEST  Journal, 16: 355-374, https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001343.
 
[8] Aghel B., Heidarian E., Sahraei S., Mir S. (2019) "Aplication of microchannel reactor to carbon dioxide absorption", Jornal of Cleaner Production, 231: 723-732, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.265.
 
[9] Guangwen C., Jun Y., and Quan Y. (2008) "Gas-Liquid Microreaction Technology: Recent Developments and Future Challenges" Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 16(5): 663–669,https://doi.org/10.1016/S1004-9541(08)60138-X.
 
[10] Löwe H., Ehrfeld W. (1999) "State-of-the-Art in Microreaction Technology: Concepts, Manufacturing and Applications", Electrochimica Acta, 44(21–22): 3679–3689, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-4686(99)00071-7.
 
[11] Lee J.W., Kang Y.T. (2013) "CO2 Absorption Enhancement by AL2O3 nanoparticles in NaCl aqueous solution", Energy, 53, 206-211, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.02.047.
 
[12] Jiang G. (2014) "Experimental study of CO2 Absorption in aqueous MEA and MDEA solution enhanced by nanoparticles", International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 29: 135-141, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2014.08.004.
 
[13] Jiang J. (2013) "Chemical Absorption kinitics in MEA solution with nanoparticles", Energy Procedia, 37: 518-524, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2013.05.138.
 
[14] Lee J.W., Jung J.Y., Lee, S.G., Kang Y.T. (2011) "CO2 Bubble Absorption enhancement in methanol based nano-fluids", International Journal of Refrigeration, 34(8): 1727-1733, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2011.08.002.
 
[15] Pineda L.T. (2012) "CO2 Absorption enhancement in methanol-based Al2O3 and SiO2 nanofluids in a tray column absorption", International Journal of Refrigeration, 35(5): 1402-1409, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2012.03.017.
 
[16] Jung J.Y., Lee J.W., Lee S.J. (2012) "CO2 Absorption characterstics of nanoparticle suspensions in methanol", Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 26: 2285-2290, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-012-0609-y.
 
[17] Pashaei H., Ghaemi A., Nasiri M., Heydarifard M. (2018) "Exprimental investigation of the effect of nano heavy metal oxide particles in piperazine solution on CO2 Absorption using a stirrer bubble column", Energy & Fuels, 32(2):2037-2052, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b03481.
 
[18] Aghel B., Heidarian E., Sahraei S., Varmira K. (2019) "Experimental study of carbon dioxide absorption by mixed aqueous solution of methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) and Piperazine (PZ) in a microreactor", Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 131: 152-159, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2019.09.008.
[19] Seo S., Lages B., Kim M. (2020) "Catalytic CO2 Absorption in an amine solvent using nickel nanoparticles for post-combustion carbon capture", Journal of CO2 Utilization, 36: 244-252, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2019.11.011.
 
[20] Pashaei, H., Ghaemi, A. (2020) "CO2 absorption into aqueous diethanolamine solution with nano heavy metal oxide particles using stirrer bubble column: Hydrodynamics and Mass transfer", Journal of Invironmental Chemical Engineering, 8: 104-110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104110.
 
[21] Lee J.W., Pineda I.T., Lee J.H., Kang Y.T. (2016) "Combined CO2 absorption/regeneration performance enhancement by using nanoabsorbents", Applied Energy, 178: 164–176, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.048.
 
[22] Pourtalebi B., Alizadeh R., Valibeknejad M. (2025) "Enhancements of CO2 absorption in wetted/wetted-column using nanoparticles and ionic liquids: A CFD study", Journal of Molecular Liquids, 48: 126738, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2024.126738.
 
[23] Orendi H.W., Joby K., Šiller L. (2024) "Enhancements of monoethanolamine CO2 absorption rate and degradation in the presence of nickel nanoparticles catalysts", Journal of CO2 Utilization, 79: 102654, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2023.102654.
 
[24] Zarei F., Keshavarz P. (2023) "High performance CO2 Absorption/Desorption using Amine-Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles", Separation and Purification Technology, 323: 124438, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2023.124438.
 
[25] Hafizi A., Hemmatzadeh Dastgerdi A., Khalifeh R. (2025) "Highly efficient CO2 absorption using improved and functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in physical and chemical absorbents", Journal of CO2 Utilization, 99: 103173, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103173.
 
[26] Shin J.W., Song Y.H., Park J.Y. (2014) " Energy recovery of ethanolamine in wastewater using an air-catode microbial fuel cell", International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 95: 117-121, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.05.021.
 
[27] Shin J.W., Song Y.H., Park J.Y. (2015) "The enhancement of ammonium removal from ethanol amine wastewater using an air-catode microbial fuel cells coupled to ferric reduction", Bioresource Technology, 190: 466-473, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.03.048.
 
[28] Filimoon A. (2018) "Amino-silicones as active compounds in the detection and capture of CO2 from the invironmental alexandra bargan and maria cazacu, smart mater", Design, Engineering Approaches and potential Application.
 
[29] Zhang Q., Ning Zh., Li X., Ning X., Wu F. Zhou J. (2023) "Experimental study of CO2 capture by nanoparticle-enhanced 2-amino-2-methyl-1- propanol aqueous solution", RSC Advances, 13: 33644, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ra06767j.
 
[30] Krishnamurty S., Bhattacharya P., Phelan P., Prasher R. (2006) "Enhanced Mass Transport in Nanofluids",
Nano letters, 6(3): 419-423, https://doi.org/10.1021/nl0522532.
 
[31]  Sumin L.U.; Min X.; Yan S.U.N.; Xiangjun D. (2013) "Experimental and theoretical studies of CO2 absorption enhancement by nano-Al2O3 and carbon nanotube particles", Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 21: 983–990, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1004-9541(13)60550-9.
 
[32]  Arshadi M., Taghvaei H., Abdolmaleki M., Lee M., Eskandarloo H., Abbaspourrad A. (2019) "Carbon dioxide absorption in water/nanofluid by a symmetric amine-based nanodendritic adsorbent", Applied Energy, 242: 1562–1572, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.03.105.
 
[33] Komati S., Suresh A.K. (2008) "CO2 absorption into amine solutions: A novel strategy for intensification based on the addition of ferrofluids", Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 83: 1094–1100, https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.1871.
 
[34]  Irani V., Maleki A., Tavasoli A. (2019) "CO2 absorption enhancement in graphene-oxide/MDEA nanofluid", Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 7(1): 102782, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2018.11.027.
 
[35] Ilyas S.U., Pendyala R., Narahari M., Susin L. (2017) "Stability, rheology and thermal analysis of functionalized alumina-thermal oil-based nanofluids for advanced cooling systems", Energy Conversion and Management, 142: 215–229, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.01.079.
 
[36] Haghtalab A., Mohammadi M., Fakhroueian Z. (2015) "Absorption and solubility measurement of CO2 in water-based ZnO and SiO2 nanofluids", Fluid Phase equilibria, 392: 33–42, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fluid.2015.02.012.
 
Journal of Separation Science and Engineering
Volume 17, Issue 2
December 2025
Pages 49-73

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics