Simultaneous removal of CO2 and H2S using MEA solution in a packed column absorber for biogas upgrading
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Publication Details
Author list: Kasikamphaiboon P., Chungsiriporn J., Bunyakan C., Wiyaratn W.
Publisher: Prince of Songkla University
Publication year: 2013
Journal: Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST) (0125-3395)
Volume number: 35
Issue number: 6
Start page: 683
End page: 691
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0125-3395
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
Abstract
Biogas production and utilization is an emerging alternative energy technology that has gained importance since the price of oil and gas has increased steadily over the last two decades. Biogas primarily consists of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) with smaller amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3). For many applications the quality of biogas has to be improved. The main parameters that may require removal in upgrading systems are CO2 and H2S. This work presents the study of simultaneous absorption of CO2 and H2S by Monoethanolamine (MEA) solution in a packed column. Simulated biogas containing 40% CO2 and 60% N2 and biogas generated from an anaerobic digestion plant were used as feed gas streams. The effects of gas flow rate, L/G ratio and absorbent concentration were investigated. The performance of the system was found to vary with process parameters. Increasing L/G ratio and MEA concentration causes the system efficiency to increase whereas increasing gas flow rate results in lower efficiency. An operating condition of L/G ratio of 83.3 ml/L, gas flow rate of 3 L/min and MEA concentration of 3 mol/L was found to remove more than 99.5% of CO2 and H2S from biogas. The volumetric overall mass-transfer coefficient (KGav) for CO2 removal initially increases with increasing gas flow rate up to a certain value beyond which the coefficient becomes essentially constant. The KGav also increases with increasing L/G ratio throughout the range tested in this study.
Keywords
Chemical absorption, Monoethanolamine, Packed column
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