Change of CO2 carrying capacity of CaO in isothermal recarbonation-decomposition cycles

The change of CO2 carrying capacity of CaO sorbents prepared from different precursors has been studied using thermogravimetric analysis in a long series of isothermal recarbonation-decomposition cycles in the temperature range of 750-850 degrees C. The residual capacity of the CaO sorbents after a large number of cycles was found to depend on the precursor type, the experimental temperature, and the duration of the recarbonation stage. The residual capacities of the CaO derived from the powdered calcium carbonates were much higher than that of the CaO produced from the crystalline CaCO3. A simple tentative model has been suggested, according to which recarbonation-decomposition cycles result in formation of the interconnected CaO network that acts as a refractory support and determines sorption properties of the material. By using a new model, a simple synthesis procedure has been suggested that produces CaO sorbents with high residual CO2 carrying capacities.