A technology review for regeneration of sulfur rich amine systems
- Authors: Garg, Bharti , Verheyen, Vincent , Pearson, Pauline , Feron, Paul , Cousins, Ashleigh
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 75, no. (2018), p. 243-253
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Reducing the capital cost of post combustion CO2 capture by eliminating flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) pre-treatment, requires management of the amines preferential SO2 absorption. Novel technologies such as CS-Cap restrict the impact of SO2 to only a small fraction of the amine inventory resulting in high sulfate burden amines. Traditional thermal reclamation of these spent absorbents has advantages regarding simplicity, but ranks poorly for industrial ecology around PCC. These amines require low energy regeneration technologies compatible with their physico-chemical properties that also maximise the potential for valorising by-products. This review summarises the sulfur chemistry and outlines several amine reclamation processes. It assesses the status of established and novel regeneration technologies for their applicability to high sulfur loaded amines. Should deep sulfur removal be required, a hybrid approach with initial bulk removal (as product) followed by a polishing step to further reduce sulfur is prospective. A preliminary estimation of the relative cost of using standard reclamation methods for treating Sulfur loaded CS-Cap absorbent revealed the cost would increase due to its higher sulfate burden despite comparable treatment volumes. Research gaps are identified which would enable better comparison between the costs of traditional FGD versus higher reclamation costs for combined capture technologies.
Ambient temperature solubilisation of brown coal in ammonium carbamate ionic liquids
- Authors: Qi, Ying , Verheyen, Vincent , Vijayaraghavan, Ranganathan , MacFarlane, Douglas , Chaffee, Alan
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Fuel Vol. 166, no. (2016), p. 106-115
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Coal solubilisation is often a necessary step for the alternative utilisation of the cheap and abundant brown coal resources in the State of Victoria, Australia, such as producing high quality fuel or chemicals. A series of ionic liquids (ILs), ammonium carbamates, formed by the association of carbon dioxide (CO2) with low molecular weight secondary amines, were investigated as solvents for the solubilisation of Victorian brown coal. The ionic liquid was mixed with a Loy Yang coal at a mass ratio of 20 to 1 (dry basis) for 24 h at ambient temperature. The solubilisation yields of the coal using three such ILs from dimethyl-, diallyl- and dipropyl-amines, respectively, were between 18% and 23%. Repeated solubilisation of the coal with fresh solvent achieved higher yields, with the highest at 66% by the carbamate formed from dimethylamine (DIMCARB). The variations in chemical structure between the products were compared by elemental analysis and a variety of spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, Solid State 13C NMR and Py-GC-MS). The soluble products of the initial solubilisation were more aliphatic than their parent coal. The less polar ILs formed from diallyl- and dipropyl-amines (DACARB and DPCARB) appeared to be more selective for high molecular weight triterpenoids than DIMCARB. Subsequent treatment tended to dissolve more aromatic components. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biological and chemical treatment technologies for waste amines from CO₂ capture plants
- Authors: Ghayur, Adeel , Verheyen, Vincent , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Environmental Management Vol. 241, no. (2018), p. 514-524
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Amine-based carbon dioxide capture is the most mature technology for reducing flue gas CO₂ emissions. It has been postulated and observed during commercialisation of this technology that significant quantities of waste amines are produced. Further industrial implementation of this technology requires adequate disposal or valorisation options for this waste. This review presents an analysis of seven biological and chemical technologies for waste amine amelioration or valorisation. Of these, the biological treatments are identified as being more mature for industrial application with the capacity for marketable product generation. Slow speed is the main drawback of the biological processes but this does not hinder their commercial viability. Using waste amine for NOx reduction in power stations is a secondary option, where it seems probable that the amount of waste amine generated in the CO₂ capture plant is sufficient to fulfil the DeNOx requirements of the flue gas. This route, however, requires investigation into the impact of waste amine impurities on the power station and the CO₂ capture plant operations.
- Description: Amine-based carbon dioxide capture is the most mature technology for reducing flue gas CO emissions. It has been postulated and observed during commercialisation of this technology that significant quantities of waste amines are produced. Further industrial implementation of this technology requires adequate disposal or valorisation options for this waste. This review presents an analysis of seven biological and chemical technologies for waste amine amelioration or valorisation. Of these, the biological treatments are identified as being more mature for industrial application with the capacity for marketable product generation. Slow speed is the main drawback of the biological processes but this does not hinder their commercial viability. Using waste amine for NOx reduction in power stations is a secondary option, where it seems probable that the amount of waste amine generated in the CO capture plant is sufficient to fulfil the DeNOx requirements of the flue gas. This route, however, requires investigation into the impact of waste amine impurities on the power station and the CO capture plant operations.
Characterization of organic compounds in biochars derived from municipal solid waste
- Authors: Taherymoosavi, Sarasadat , Verheyen, Vincent , Munroe, Paul , Joseph, Stephen , Reynolds, Alicia
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Waste Management Vol. 67, no. (2017), p. 131-142
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has been growing in many countries, which has led to numerous environmental problems. Converting MSW into a valuable biochar-based by-product can manage waste and, possibly, improve soil fertility, depending on the soil properties. In this study, MSW-based biochars, collected from domestic waste materials and kerbsides in two Sydney's regions, were composted and pyrolysed at 450 °C, 550 °C and 650 °C. The characteristics of the organic components and their interactions with mineral phases were investigated using a range of analytical techniques, with special attention given to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metal concentrations. The MSW biochar prepared at 450 °C contained the most complex organic compounds. The highest concentration of fixed C, indicating the stability of biochar, was detected in the high-temperature-biochar. Microscopic analysis showed development of pores and migration of mineral phases, mainly Ca/P/O-rich phases, into the micro-pores and Si/Al/O-rich phases on the surface of the biochar in the MSW biochar produced at 550 °C. Amalgamation of organic phases with mineral compounds was observed, at higher pyrolysis temperatures, indicating chemical reactions between these two phases at 650 °C. XPS analysis showed the main changes occurred in C and N bonds. During heat treatment, N-C/C=N functionalities decomposed and oxidized N configurations, mainly pyridine-N-oxide groups, were formed. The majority of the dissolved organic carbon fraction in both MSW biochar produced at 450 °C and 550 °C was in the form of building blocks, whereas LMW acids was the main fraction in high-temperature-biochar (59.9%). © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Characterization of organic particulates present in milk factory process waters used for reuse along with aerobically digested effluent wastewater
- Authors: Verheyen, Vincent , Cruickshank, Alicia , Wild, Karl , Heaven, M. , McGee, R. , Watkins, Mark , Nash, David
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Bioresource Technology Vol. 102, no. 2 (2010), p. 2118-2125
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Wastewater from a dairy processor is being reused and recycled both within the plant and for irrigation. Flash pyrolysis GC–MS was used to examine nitrogen and phenol containing compounds (M.W. = 35 to 450 g/mol) in the particulate fraction of the milk condensate, combined clean wastewater and aerobic bioreactor effluent. For comparison, the particulates were also prepared for standard GC–MS analyses using conventional solvent extraction methods. Compounds detected by pyrolysis GC–MS were found mostly in the bioreactor with the amino acid arginine (220 mg/kg) and the amino acid derivative 1-methyl-5-oxo-L-proline methyl ester (130 mg/kg) found at the highest concentrations. In comparison, sterols detected in the effluent were found at higher concentrations when using solvent extraction indicating some degradation with pyrolysis GC–MS. However, with few exceptions, particulates were generally found not to act as passive collectors capable of concentrating less water soluble chemicals.
Characterization of trace organic compounds in recycled water used for irrigation on turf and comparison with rain
- Authors: Heaven, M. , Verheyen, Vincent , Cruickshank, Alicia , Wild, Karl , Watkins, Mark , Nash, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural Water Management Vol. 103, no. (2012), p. 176-181
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Wastewaters are increasingly being reused in public spaces to supplant the use of potable water. In this study we investigated possible trace organic contaminants in wastewater from a dairy factory applied to a recreation reserve. Samples were taken of recycled dairy factory wastewater used to irrigate the reserve and from the subsurface drainage system after irrigation and after rainfall. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, it was found that irrigation drainage mostly contained different compounds to those in rainfall drainage. This drainage water was found to contain residues of three agrochemicals (dicamba, 0.4 ± 0.07
Comparison of sample preparation methods for the GC–MS analysis of monoethanolamine (MEA) degradation products generated during post-combustion capture of CO2
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 52, no. (2016), p. 201-214
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: As the development of chemical absorption technology for post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO2 from coal-fired power station flue gases proceeds towards commercial deployment, the focus on establishing a thorough understanding of the degradation of the aqueous amine absorbents is increasing. However, there is a need to develop and demonstrate robust analytical methods that are capable of measuring the concentrations of amine degradation products in aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) matrix during pilot-scale PCC. In this study, sample cleanup and derivatisation methods that enable reliable and robust analysis of MEA degradation products by GC–MS are described. Two sample cleanup methods were evaluated: dehydration (by rotary evaporation and molecular sieves) and cation exchange. The cation exchange sample preparation method was preferred for the analysis of organic degradation products in these samples because it achieved higher recovery and repeatability of GC–MS measurements than those obtained with the dehydration method. Furthermore, the cation exchange method resulted in less continued amine degradation during subsequent analysis steps because of its ability to separate acidic analytes from basic analytes, as well as to remove some inorganic interferences. Further improvement of the sensitivity, repeatability and accuracy of this GC–MS analytical method can be accomplished by: (a) increasing the scale of the cation exchange and/or derivatisation procedures; (b) optimizing the derivatisation reaction conditions; and (c) using a narrower bore (e.g. 0.25 mm ID) GC–MS column. The proposed cation exchange and derivatisation procedures can be readily adopted for the quantification of organic degradation products in other aqueous amine absorbents to provide important insights into the degradation of amine absorbents during PCC of CO2. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
Degradation of amine-based solvents
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Absorption-Based Post-Combustion Capture of Carbon Dioxide Chapter 16 p. 399-423
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Degradation of aqueous amines during post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO2 from fossil-fuel flue gases by wet gas scrubbing can lead to reduced energy efficiency, operational instability, increased corrosion, and unwanted emissions to the environment. Oxidative amine degradation and the accumulation of heat-stable salts primarily occur during absorption of CO2, whereas carbamate polymerization (also called thermal degradation) primarily occurs during desorption of CO2 and thermal amine reclamation. Oxidative degradation is closely related to corrosion, catalyzed by dissolved metal ions, and can be exacerbated by intermittent operation of PCC. Other important reactions, such as nitrosation, occur at much slower rates but can produce environmentally sensitive compounds. The ability to measure the concentrations of individual compounds or monitor amine degradation during PCC is important for managing amine degradation during PCC and demonstrating compliance with environmental regulations. Although some suitable analytical methods are available, further work is needed before they could satisfy the rigorous statutory and legal requirements. Strategies for avoiding and managing amine degradation need to be integrated into all PCC activities including: selecting degradation-resistant amines, ensuring adequate pretreatment of CO2-rich flue gas, avoiding severe CO2 absorption and desorption conditions, and the use of anticorrosion and antioxidation additives. Avoiding intermittent operation of PCC processes and choosing nonmetal column packing may also assist in minimizing amine degradation. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
Dynamic modelling and optimisation of flexible operation in post-combustion CO2 capture plants - A review
- Authors: Bui, Mai , Gunawan, Indra , Verheyen, Vincent , Feron, Paul , Meuleman, Erik , Adeloju, Samuel
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Computers and Chemical Engineering Vol. 61, no. (2014), p. 245-265
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The drive for efficiency improvements in post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) technologies continues to grow, with recent attention being directed towards flexible operation of PCC plants. However, there is a lack of research into the effect of process disturbances when operating flexibly, justifying a need for validated dynamic models of the PCC process. This review critically examines the dynamic PCC process models developed to date and analyses the different approaches used, as well as the model complexity and their limitations. Dynamic process models coupled with economic analysis will play a crucial role in process control and optimisation. Also discussed are key areas that need to be addressed in future dynamic models, including the lack of reliable dynamic experimental data for their validation, development of feasible flexible operation and process control strategies, as well as process optimisation by integrating accurate process models with established economic analysis tools. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
Dynamic operation of liquid absorbent-based post-combustion CO2 capture plants
- Authors: Bui, Mai , Gunawan, Indra , Verheyen, Vincent , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Absorption-Based Post-Combustion Capture of Carbon Dioxide (Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy) Chapter 24 p. 589-621
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Dynamic (or flexible) operation has been proposed as a strategy to reduce the impact of integrating post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) into power plants. It provides a means for counteracting ongoing variations in the composition of flue gas and absorbent, and also accounts for dynamic variations in carbon and electricity pricing, and electricity demand. For example, in periods of low energy demand, electricity prices will be lower and capture rates may be ramped up accordingly. During high-demand periods, electricity prices will be higher, and capture may be turned down or switched off completely. Flexible PCC operation can also coordinate the balance between electricity demand and legislative requirements for CO2 emission reductions, to improve the economic feasibility of PCC. However, dynamic PCC operation imposes process disturbances when the CO2 capture plant is ramped up or turned down. The immediate and long-term effects of these disturbances are unclear. Thus, recent research is now focusing on the feasibility of flexible PCC operation on a technical basis. Dynamic modeling and pilot plant studies will improve our understanding of dynamic PCC behavior and enable process control to be optimized. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
Evaluation of methods for monitoring MEA degradation during pilot scale post-combustion capture of CO
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 39, no. (2015), p. 407-419
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Amine degradation is an important and current focus in the development of chemical absorption technology based on the use of aqueous amines for post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO
Further developments in dynamic modelling of CO2 capture from flue gas
- Authors: Dickinson, Jillian , Puxty, Graeme , Percy, Andrew , Verheyen, Vincent
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 8th Vienna International Conference on Mathematical Modelling: MATHMOD 2015 p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mathematical modelling of CO2 capture from industrial flue gas by absorption into amine solutions such as monoethanolamine (MEA) has been undertaken for decades and steady state, rate-based and dynamic models have been constructed to predict the changes in the process. Recently, dynamic models have been used to predict the effect that physical operational changes have on the absorption process. As more is learnt about the chemistry of MEA and CO2 it becomes evident that the absorption system is losing available MEA, by degradation and by vaporization into the gaseous phase. This paper describes a dynamic model of the absorber column that can be used to predict the reduction of available MEA, the loss of MEA to the atmosphere, and the build-up of heat stable salts. The proposed mathematical model consists of a system of partial differential equations to represent the change of each component with height of the column and with time. It has been validated with data from a pilot capture plant located at the brown coal fired Loy Yang power station in Australia.
Increasing hydrogen energy efficiency by heat integration between fuel cell, hydride tank and electrolyzer
- Authors: Ghayur, Adeel , Verheyen, Vincent
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2019 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Computer Science and Data Engineering, CSDE 2019
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Chemical processes offer untapped potential to increase overall system efficiencies by synergizing renewable hydrogen storage with dispatchable renewable energy facilities. In this study an Energy Storage Facility model is developed and simulation conducted to examine this potential. The model incorporates a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) integrated with a Magnesium Hydride (MgH2) Tank and an alkaline electrolyzer linked to the power grid. Surplus grid power is converted to hydrogen and stored as magnesium hydride. This storage process generates waste heat which is used to partially offset the water heating requirement of the electrolyzer. Simulation results demonstrate 20% reduction in parasitic heat energy consumption using this waste heat. Stored hydrogen provides power on demand via the SOFC. Waste heat from SOFC fulfils the desorption heat demand of the MgH2 Tank. Simulation results reveal waste heat from the SOFC is just enough to preheat oxygen and hydrogen and desorb hydrogen from the MgH2 tank. These results are encouraging, warranting further investigation into metal hydride storage to help Australia's transition towards renewable energy resources. © 2019 IEEE.
IR monitoring of absorbent composition and degradation during pilot plant operation
- Authors: Puxty, Graeme , Bennett, Robert , Conway, Will , Webster-Gardiner, Mike , Yang, Qi , Pearson, Pauline , Cottrell, Aaron , Huang, Sanger , Feron, Paul , Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Vol. 59, no. 15 (2020), p. 7080-7086
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The monitoring of the absorbent during the operation of CO2 separation processes is a necessary and challenging task. The most common absorbent used is an aqueous amine solution. Traditional approaches to analysis such as titration and chromatography are time-consuming and only provide limited information. This hinders the ability of process operators to rapidly respond to changes in operating conditions. In this work, a combination of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and principle component regression (PCR) analyses have been demonstrated as a rapid and reliable technique to determine the composition of an absorbent during a pilot plant campaign at a brown coal power station. The concentration of amine, a degradation product, CO2, and water was monitored throughout the campaign by a method that provided results in minutes. The results were verified by independent sample analysis using acid-base titration, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and 13C NMR spectroscopy. It was necessary to use spectral windowing when building the IR-PCR model, but this resulted in a robust and reliable method that has been demonstrated to work in a real-world process environment. © 2019 American Chemical Society.
- Description: The authors wish to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Brown Coal Innovation Australia, Ltd., a private member-based company with funding contracts through the Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development, Ltd. (ANLEC R&D) and the Victorian State Government. The work described here was made possible through the PICA project, a collaboration between AGL Loy Yang, IHI, and CSIRO that aims to advance post-combustion CO 2 -capture technology in Australia.
Isolation and characterisation of recalcitrant organic components from an estuarine sediment core
- Authors: Mylotte, Rosaleen , Verheyen, Vincent , Reynolds, Alicia , Dalton, Catherine , Patti, Antonio , Chang, Rung , Burdon, James , Hayes, Michael
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Soils and Sediments Vol. 15, no. 1 (2015), p. 211-224
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose The purpose of this research was to isolate humic substances and humin from an estuarine sediment core using a novel sequential extraction procedure to characterise the isolates, to determine their compositions and to understand how the organic matter (OM) changes with time. Materials and methods The sediments were exhaustively extracted using the following media: 0.1 M NaOH; 0.1 M NaOH + 6 M urea; and dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) + H2SO4 (94:6 v/v). Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (pyGC/MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were the analytical tools that gave the most significant data for the characterisation of the organic isolates. Results and discussion The results indicate subtle molecular compositional differences in relation to the alkaline and alkaline-urea isolates. The humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) are readily solvated in aqueous alkaline media compared to the aqueous insoluble hydrophobic humin (HU) components. In addition to aliphatic hydrocarbons, peptide materials make considerable contributions to the component structures of the isolates. Aryl and O-aryl C units characteristic of lignin, and of cutan structures from plants, indicate contributions from terrestrial OM to the organic components in the HU, especially from the base of the core. The evidence suggests that components of terrestrial plant materials and of microbial biomass are preferentially preserved with time and make the major contributions to the OM retained over long time scales. The data acquired provide detailed information about the origins, compositions, nature and the associations of the OM in the estuarine sediment core. Such information provides a greater understanding of the role of these organic components in the carbon (C) sink. Conclusions Humic acids and FAs are mineralised with time whereas HU is highly recalcitrant and represents a long-term sink for organic C. Humin is a separate organic entity and does not conform to the definitions of a humic substance. Terrestrial OM is preserved over long time scales in the environment. Protein makes significant contributions to all the organic isolates and its preservation suggests encapsulation in hydrophobic domains, or interactions with clay minerals.
Monoethanolamine degradation during Pilot-Scale post-combustion capture of CO₂ from a brown coal-fired power station
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Energy & Fuels Vol. 29, no. 11 (2015), p. 7441-7455
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The use of aqueous amines, such as monoethanolamine (MEA, 2-aminoethanol), for post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO2 from fossil-fuel-fired power station flue gases leads to undesirable reactions with oxygen, SO2, and NO2. This study has used a gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS) method to measure the changes in concentrations of organic compounds in samples of a 30% (w/w) aqueous MEA absorbent obtained from CSIRO's PCC pilot plant operating at AGL's Loy Yang brown coal-fired power station in Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia. This aqueous MEA absorbent was previously used for more than 700 h of PCC, and the collected samples represent a further 834 h of PCC operation. These data provide a new perspective on the close, interdependent relationships between corrosion and amine degradation reactions. Other important outcomes include confirmation that (a) organic degradation products identified during laboratory-scale trials were also produced during pilot-scale PCC and (b) N-(2-hydroxyethyl)imidazole (HEI) is a suitable molecular marker for oxidative degradation of MEA. This investigation has also highlighted areas that require further research, including (a) determination of oxidative degradation mechanisms in both the presence and absence of dissolved transition metals, (b) determination of parameters that limit oxidative degradation during pilot-scale PCC, (c) investigation of the antioxidative or oxygen-scavenging properties of partially oxidized amine absorbents during PCC, and (d) measurement of the concentrations of glycine, glycolic acid, and other potential organic acids during PCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Description: The use of aqueous amines, such as monoethanolamine (MEA, 2-aminoethanol), for post-combustion capture (PCC) of
Oxidative degradation of amine absorbents in carbon capture systems – A dynamic modelling approach
- Authors: Dickinson, Jillian , Percy, Andrew , Puxty, Graeme , Verheyen, Vincent
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 53, no. (2016), p. 391-400
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fossil fuels are used widely for energy production and are likely to continue to play a major role world wide for many years to come. Much work has been done on the technology for capturing CO2 from gaseous industrial effluent. For large-scale applications like coal or natural gas-fired power plants, using amine solvents to capture post-combustion CO2 is the most mature CO2 capture technology. This technique can be used to retrofit existing plants by treating the flue gas after combustion. This paper details a dynamic mathematical model for the absorber column constructed from first principles. The loss of MEA through oxidative degradation has been quantified here for the first time and this is currently not possible using commercial packages. Reaction rate kinetics have been employed to predict the accumulation of oxidation products which is limited by the incomplete knowledge of the dominant reactions between O2 and MEA. When research has produced more detailed information about the products formed during this oxidation, it can be inserted easily into the model. Validation has been performed using data from the CSIRO PCC pilot plant at AGL Loy Yang. A limited parametric study of the impact of operating conditions on oxidation was performed.
Potential use of treated bottom ash as a capillary barrier in phytocaps
- Authors: Venkatraman, Kartik , Wilcox, Steve , Verheyen, Vincent , Panther, Barbara
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Energy, Environment and Economics Vol. 28, no. 4 (2021), p. 271-304
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Waste to Energy (WtE) technology has been implemented in European and many Asia countries with tremendous success and social acceptance. Bottom Ash (BA) generated from this process has also been effectively used as raw material or by-product in many applications. This technology, however, is still in its infancy in Australia. Additionally, the market and appetite for enduse of BA is still to be explored. One such option for its enduse is in landfill capping as a capillary barrier to reduce water infiltration into buried waste. Bottom ash from WtE plants could be used as a capillary barrier in phytocaps-an alternative landfill capping techniques which uses tree and soil to reduce water infiltration into waste. Literature suggests that with proper treatment (stabilisation) or proper mixing and adequate curing, the hydraulic conductivity of BA can be increased (Circa 10-7 cm/s) by increasing its density and significantly reducing the threshold limits of heavy metals and other contaminants that may otherwise pose a risk to the environment. © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Primary sources and accumulation rates of inorganic anions and dissolved metals in a MEA absorbent during PCC at a brown coal-fired power station
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 41, no. (2015), p. 239-248
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO2 from fossil fuel-fired power station flue gas is one of many technologies that are being developed to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the medium term. Wet-gas scrubbing using aqueous amines is currently the most mature PCC technology suitable for separating CO2 from coal-fired power station flue gases. In this study, a series of twelve samples of a degraded 30% (w/w) MEA absorbent were obtained over a six month pilot scale PCC campaign at a brown coal-fired power station in Australia. These samples were used to investigate the accumulation of heat-stable salts, inorganics and minerals. The heat-stable salts concentration increased from 0.80 to 2.29% (w/w, as MEA) and organic acids from the oxidative degradation of MEA were the largest component of heat-stable salts. Acid gases such as SOx and NOx, make-up water, ultra-fine fly-ash and corrosion were all sources of the minerals and inorganics that accumulated in the aqueous MEA absorbent. Corrosion was the single biggest contributor of transition metals and the abrupt change in ratios of Fe, Cr and Mo suggests that the dominant corrosion mechanism may have changed towards the end of the campaign. The rapid accumulation of minerals and inorganics during this PCC campaign highlights the importance of continuing research into the interactions between amine absorbents and inorganic or mineral contaminants. The data presented in this study are an important resource for design of laboratory scale experiments to investigate these physical and chemical interactions between aqueous amines, minerals and inorganics.
Quantification of aqueous monoethanolamine concentration by gas chromatography for postcombustion capture of
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Vol. 53, no. 12 (2014), p. 4805-4811
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The availability of reliable analytical methods for measuring amine concentrations is necessary for optimum operation of aqueous amine CO 2 separation systems being employed for postcombustion capture (PCC) of CO2. A GC-FID (gas chromatography with flame ionization detection) method is described for the reliable quantification of 30% (w/w) monoethanolamine (MEA) in severely degraded solvent samples. The observation of intermittent splitting of the MEA peak was a major concern with this approach. The use of a wide-bore column led to improved MEA peak resolution and peak shape. The reliability and robustness of the GC-FID method were assessed by analyzing degraded 30% (w/w) MEA solvent samples from CSIRO's pilot plant at AGL's Loy Yang power station in Victoria, Australia. The results were compared with those obtained by titration and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements of the same samples. The MEA concentrations obtained by the GC-FID and titration methods were statistically similar. In contrast, the MEA concentrations calculated from TOC were consistently higher than those obtained by both GC-FID and titration. © 2014 American Chemical Society.