Molten Salt Promoting Effect in Double Salt CO2 Absorbents

NaNO3 and other alkali nitrate salts, which are present in the molten state during use, have been described as facilitators or catalysts for CO2 absorption by both MgO and MgO-containing double salts. Although MgO exhibits a high capacity (exceeding 70 wt %), its regenerability in multicycle tests shows a significant loss of capacity with cycle number prior to lining out. On the other hand, the MgO-Na2CO3 double salt shows a lower (similar to 16 wt %) but stable capacity over multiple cycles under pressure swing operation. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the concept of molten salts as catalysts for CO2 absorption by MgO, and extend these observations to the MgO-containing double salt oxides. We will show that the phenomena involved with CO2 absorption by MgO and MgO-based double salts are similar and general, but with some important differences. This paper focuses on the following key concepts: (i) identification of conditions that favor or disfavor participation of isolated MgO during double salt absorption, and investigation of methods to increase the absorption capacity of double salt systems by including MgO participation; (ii) examination of the relationship between CO2 uptake and melting point of the promoter salt, leading to the recognition of the role of premelting (surface melting) in these systems; and (iii) extension of the reaction pathway model developed for the MgO-NaNO3 system to the double salt systems. This information advances our understanding of MgO-based CO2 absorption systems for application with precombustion gas streams.