(649a) CO2-Binding Organic Liquids (CO2BOLs) Enabling Energy- and Cost-Effective Carbon Capture from Point-Sources

Chemical absorption using aqueous amines has been considered as the most mature technology to capture CO₂ from point-sources. However, its industrial deployment has been impeded by high capital cost and energy penalties. Advanced carbon capture technologies are in demand for a transition toward a decarbonized global economy. Here we present three CO₂-binding organic liquids (CO₂BOLs) derivatives, under the class of water-lean solvents (WLS) as promising options enabling energy- and cost-effective carbon capture from point-sources. Techno-economic analysis was conducted for these three solvents with a carbon capture rate from 80% to 99% using a variety of laboratory measured solvent properties and standard economic assumptions in 2018 US dollars. The results suggest that the water-lean feature significantly reduces the unwanted water condensation and subsequent vaporization in the solvent regenerator thereby reducing regeneration energy by about 35% in comparison to aqueous amines. All three CO₂BOLs derivatives can achieve a carbon capture rate greater than 90% and a projected carbon capture cost lower than $40/tonne CO₂ for a 650 MW supercritical pulverized coal (PC) power plant, about 15-25% cheaper than that of aqueous amines. The lowest carbon capture cost can be achieved at a carbon capture rate around 95-97% for these CO₂BOLs, considering trade-offs between capital and operating costs. A comparison between these CO₂BOLs indicates that solvent properties, including viscosity, volatility, and hydrophobicity, have strong impacts on the energy and economic performance of WLS for point-source CO₂ capture in addition to vapor liquid equilibrium and kinetics.