A review of different solvents, mass transfer, and hydrodynamics for postcombustion CO2 capture

There is a growing environmental concern regarding carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human activities that result in global warming or climate change. To tackle this potential problem, it is crucial to develop CO2 capture technologies. This paper reviews the current status of postcombustion carbon capture by absorption in packed column using different solvents. The major concerns with the selection of absorbent, such as absorption rate, CO2 absorption capacity, CO2 solubility, environmental cost, and toxicity, are discussed. The hydrodynamics and mass-transfer performance of CO2 absorption in a packed column are reviewed. The determinant factors of CO2 absorption, including effective interfacial area and mass-transfer coefficients in different contactors, are discussed. Liquid holdup and pressure-drop models are investigated.