Gas hydrate formation process for pre-combustion capture of carbon dioxide

In this study, gas hydrate from CO2/H-2 gas mixtures with the addition of tetrahydrofuran (THE) was formed in a semi-batch stirred vessel at various pressures and temperatures to investigate the CO2 separation/recovery properties. This mixture is of interest to CO2 separation and recovery from Integrated Gasification Combine Cycle (IGCC) power plants. During hydrate formation the gas uptake was determined and composition changes in the gas phase were obtained by gas chromatography. The impact of THE on hydrate formation from the CO2/H-2 was observed. The addition of THF significantly reduced the equilibrium formation conditions. 1.0 mol% THF was found to be the optimum concentration for CO2 capture based on kinetic experiments. The present study illustrates the concept and provides thermodynamic and kinetic data for the separation/recovery of CO2 (pre-combustion capture) from a fuel gas (CO2/H-2) mixture. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.