Michael Mthulisi Ngwenya (N02221351Y)

Mvuseleli Makanuko (N012132570H)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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1. Combustion of Fossil Fuels: The primary source of carbon
dioxide production is the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil,
and natural gas.
2. Fermentation: This is commonly used in industries such as
brewing, winemaking, and baking.
3. Chemical Reactions: Carbon dioxide can be produced through
various chemical reactions. For example, when limestone (calcium
carbonate) is heated, it decomposes to form lime (calcium oxide)
and carbon dioxide. This process, known as calcination, is widely
used in cement production.

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• A water-tube boiler produces 14-17 atm of steam from
burning coal, coal fuel, or gas. Flue gases, containing 10-
18% CO2, are cooled and cleaned before passing through
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two packed towers.
• The cooled flue gases are then absorbed by a
solution of ethanolamines in an absorption tower.
• The CO2 free flue gases are exhausted to the atmosphere.
• The CO2 bearing solution is sprayed from the top of a reactivation
tower, where CO2 is stripped from the amine solution by heat at a
pressure of about 20 atm.
• The steam condenses and returns to the tower as reflux.

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Question
• What is a Flue gas?

• Flue gas refers to the exhaust gas that is produced

during combustion of fuels in industrial processes.
• These gases are CO2, water vapor, nitrogen oxides,
sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.
• During the industrial processes, flue gas is released
into the atmosphere through chimneys or flue stacks.
• Before discharge, the gases are treated to reduce
the concentration of harmful pollutants.
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• Once carbon dioxide is generated through the manufacturing process,
it is recovered and purified for various industrial applications. The steps:
1. Collection: The first step is to collect the carbon dioxide gas from the source where it is
being produced.
2. Compression: The collected carbon dioxide gas is then compressed to increase its
pressure. Compression helps in reducing the volume of the gas, making it easier to
transport and store.
3. Cooling: After compression, the gas is cooled to convert it into a liquid state. This liquid
form of carbon dioxide is commonly known as dry ice.
4. Purification: To remove impurities such as moisture, sulfur compounds, and other
contaminants, the liquid carbon dioxide undergoes purification. This is achieved through a
process called scrubbing, where the gas is passed through various chemical solvents or
absorbents that selectively capture impurities.
5. Separation: Carbon dioxide needs to be separated from other gases present in the
mixture. This can be done through cryogenic distillation or pressure swing adsorption,
which exploit the differences in boiling points or adsorption capacities of different gases. 8
• The processes most commonly used for recovery of
carbon dioxide are:

1. Ethanolamine / Girbotol amine process

2. Sodium carbonate process
3. Potassium carbonate process

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Methods of Recovery: Ethanolamine process

• Ethanolamine, also known as monoethanolamine or MEA,

is a chemical compound that reacts with carbon dioxide to form a
carbamate (salt) used for carbon capture and storage:
2OHC2H4NH2 + H2O + CO2 ↔ (OHC2H4NH3)2CO3
• The Girbotol amine process, uses aqueous solutions of mono-, di-, or
triethanolamine as absorption medium.
• It follows the operation during the manufacture of CO2.
• The process involves a forward reaction at a low temperature (65ºC),
absorption of CO2 in the absorber, passing of the gas at the bottom of
the tower (rich in CO2), and through the heat exchanger.
• Then the amine solution is preheated, reactivated by steam or direct
fired at the re-boiler. 10
Methods of Recovery: Ethanolamine process
• CO2 and steam pass out through the top of the reactivation tower into
a gas cooler in which the steam condenses and returns to the tower as
reflux.
• This hot solution (140ºC) passes out of the tower, through the heat
exchanger and cooler, and returns to the absorber tower.
• CO2 gas is stripped out at the pressure of about 20 atm. If liquid or solid
CO2 is desired, it may be further purified for odour removal before
compression.
• In the case of flue gases containing oxygen, small side stream of
solution is passed through re-distillation unit, where the oxidation
products are removed and the distilled amine is returned to the process
• Advantages include complete removal of carbon dioxide, regeneration
up to 100% with moderate steam consumption, higher absorption of
CO2 in the solution, and lower operating costs. 11
 Question

What is the importance and use of ethanolamine in

the recovery process of manufacture of CO2?

• It has the ability to chemically absorb CO2 from flue

gas emissions. This reduces greenhouse gas
emissions from power plants and industrial facilities.
• Uses entail: Solvent for acid gas removal or gas
sweetening (removing acidic gases like H2S and CO2
from from natural gas streams), corrosion inhibition,
pharmaceutical and personal care products.
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 Sodium carbonate process
Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 ↔ 2NaHCO3
• The recovery of pure carbon dioxide from gases with diluents
like nitrogen and carbon monoxide involves a reversible reaction.
• This process occurs at low temperatures in an absorber, where
CO2 bearing gases pass countercurrently to sodium carbonate
solution. Heat is applied in a lye boiler, with a heat exchanger
preheating the strong lye and cooling the weak lye.
• The absorber is made of carbon-steel filled with coke, raschig
rings, or steel turnings, allowing gas to contact the liquid.
• Variations include a tower filled with sodium carbonate solution,
and a lye boiler, either direct-fired or steam-heated. To increase
efficiency, absorbers re-circulate the lye, allowing only 20-25%
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of solution to pass through the boiler.
 Potassium carbonate process

• The hot potassium carbonate process is a method used to

remove CO2 from NH3 synthesis gas mixtures and natural gas.
• Gas streams are treated at 17 atm, increasing the partial pressure of
CO2.
• The hot K2CO3 solution absorbs CO2 at 1100ºC, which is then sent
to a CO2 stripping tower operating at atmospheric pressure.
• Vetrocoke, an Italian company, uses additives like amino acids,
arsenic trioxide, and selenium and tellurium oxides in hot potassium
carbonate absorbent solutions.
• This increases CO2 absorption rate and decreases steam required
for stripping CO2.
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• Carbon dioxide obtained in the impure state can be
purified by different ways. There are two main categories
for purification of carbon dioxide:

1. Purification of low percentage of CO2 containing gas.

2. Purification of high percentage of CO2 containing gas

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• The process involves a 18% hot CO2 gas being heated in an
exchanger, scrubbed with Na2CO3 solution, and absorbed in two
towers. The absorbed carbon dioxide is then heated in a heat
exchanger, cooled in a cooler, and stored. This process ensures
efficient and safe storage.
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• Gases are compressed to 5 atm and dehydrated using silica gel,
activated alumina, or concentrated H2SO4. The gas is then
scrubbed to remove organic matter and odour. Compression occurs
in two stages: 5 to 20 atm and 20 to 60 atm, resulting in liquid CO2
and solid CO2. The liquid CO2 is stored at -10ºC after compression,
and solid CO2 is formed at -40ºC when pressure is released through
an expansion tank. 17
Calcination process:

• The calcining process is a thermal

treatment of a solid material, usually a
chemical compound, to remove impurities,
volatile substances, or water, and/or to
cause thermal decomposition or phase
transition.
• The calcining process usually involves
heating the material in a controlled
environment, such as a furnace, kiln, or
reactor, at a high temperature, but below its
melting point.
• The product of the calcining process is
called calcine, and it often has different
properties from the original material. 18
 Calcination process examples:
Some examples of chemical reactions that take place during the calcining process
are:les of chemical reactions that take place during the calcining process are:

• The decomposition of carbonate ores, such as limestone, zinc carbonate, or

copper carbonate, to produce metal oxides and carbon dioxide. For example, the
calcination of limestone is:

CaCO3(s) -> CaO(s) + CO2(g)

This reaction is used to produce quicklime, which is an important ingredient in

cement and a chemical flux in smelting.

• The decomposition of hydrated minerals, such as bauxite or gypsum, to produce

anhydrous minerals and water vapor. . For example, the calcination of bauxite is:
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Al2O3.2H2O(s) -> Al2O3(s) + 2H2O(g)
 Calcination process examples:

• The decomposition of volatile matter from raw petroleum coke, which

is a solid residue from oil refining, to produce calcined petroleum
coke and various gases. For example, the calcination of petroleum
coke is:

C10H22(s) ->C(s) + 5H2(g) + 2CH4(g) + C2H6(g) + C3H8(g)

• This reaction is used to improve the quality and purity of petroleum

coke, which is used as a fuel and as a source of carbon for various
industries.

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• Food Preservation and packaging: CO2 is used to extend
the shelf life and quality of food products such as meat,
cheese, bread and fruits. It inhibits the growth of bacteria
and fungi.
• Fire Suppression: Carbon dioxide is commonly used as a
fire suppressant in areas where water-based fire
suppression systems are not suitable, such as electrical
equipment or sensitive machinery.
• Beverage Industry: Carbon dioxide is widely used in the
production of carbonated beverages like soda, beer, and
sparkling water.
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• Industrial Processes: Carbon dioxide finds applications in
various industrial processes like metal fabrication,
welding, and chemical manufacturing.
• Medical Applications: In the medical field, carbon dioxide
is used for diagnostic purposes, such as in medical
imaging techniques like X-rays and CT scans. It is also
used in respiratory therapies and as a contrast agent
during certain medical procedures.
• As solid CO2 in refrigeration process.
• Gaseous CO2 is the basic raw material for production of
Na2CO3, NaHCO3.
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What is Dry ice?
• Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas
that is present in the atmosphere and can be obtained
from various sources, such as the refining of ammonia,
petroleum, or other chemicals. Dry ice has a very low
temperature of -78.5ºC and sublimates (changes
directly from solid to gas) without leaving any liquid
residue. Dry ice is used for many purposes, such as
preserving, cleaning, and creating special effects.
• Its advantages include lower temperature than that of
water ice and not leaving any residue. It is useful for
preserving frozen foods where mechanical cooling is
unavailable.
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• Ethanolamine - Wikipedia.
Avaliable at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanolamine.
• Reaction mechanisms of aqueous monoethanolamine with carbon dioxide
Avaliable at
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2015/cp/c4cp04518a.
• Ethanolamine - American Chemical Society.
Avaliable at https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-
week/archive/e/ethanolamine.html.
• Calcination - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcination.
• Rumayor, M., Dominguez-Ramos, A. and Irabien, A., 2018. Formic Acid
manufacture: Carbon dioxide utilization alternatives. Applied Sciences, 8(6),
p.914.

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