Potential of Branched Polymers in the Field of Gas Absorption:  Experimental Gas Solubilities and Modeling

Abstract

In this work, the potential of low-viscous branched polymers for gas separation applications such as CO 2 absorption from flue gas is examined. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen solubilities are measured at low pressures for linear and branched polyethers, hyperbranched polyesters, and polyamines such as a polyamidoamine and a polyethylene imine as well as in their aqueous solutions. The results are reported in terms of Henry constants in the temperature range T ) 310-370 K. The densities of the pure polymers and their aqueous solutions are measured between T ) 293.15 and 363.15 K. The selectivities of the polymers for CO 2 /N 2 and the enthalpies of absorption at infinite dilution are determined. The group-contribution method UNIFAC-FV is applied to the CO 2 solubilities in polyethers and the hyperbranched polyester. It has been shown that branched polymers are promising candidates for gas absorbents with a high capacity for CO 2 and with large selectivities. The UNIFAC-FV model is able to predict the CO 2 solubilities in the investigated polymers.

Measurements of mass-fraction activity coefficient at infinite dilution of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, thiophene, alcohols, water, ethers, and ketones in hyperbranched polymer, Boltorn H2004, using inverse gas chromatography

“…Much of the interest in hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) is based on their promise as new attractive entrainers in the different separation processes such as extractive distillation, membrane processes, and for gas separation applications such as CO 2 absorption from flue gas [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. All mentioned applications benefit from the molecular interactions offered by hyperbranched polymers and characterized in a large numbers of reviews [1,8,9].…”

Temperature and composition dependence of the density and viscosity of binary mixtures of (hyperbranched polymer, B-U3000+1-alcohol, or ether)

“…It has highly branched polymer backbone and in average 14 unsaturated fatty ester groups in the molecule. B-U3000 is formed in estrification reaction of hyperbranched polyester Boltorn H30 with sunflower oil, that consists of C 16 and/or C 18 fatty acids [3]. HBPs are polymers interesting from the point of view of potential applications in many disciplines of chemical engineering, separation methods and absorption of gases [1,3].…”

“…B-U3000 is formed in estrification reaction of hyperbranched polyester Boltorn H30 with sunflower oil, that consists of C 16 and/or C 18 fatty acids [3]. HBPs are polymers interesting from the point of view of potential applications in many disciplines of chemical engineering, separation methods and absorption of gases [1,3]. Therefore, processes such as extractive distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, absorption, and emulsion liquid membranes represent promising fields of applications.…”

“…For HBPs to be effectively used as solvents in liquid-liquid extraction, or other fields, the knowledge of the viscosity and density is fundamental. The experimental density results of B-U3000 as a function of temperature over wide range of temperatures from (290 to 360) K were presented earlier [3]. This paper is a continuation of our wide ranging of investigation into the HBPs and ionic liquids (ILs) entrainers used in different separation processes [4][5][6][7][8].…”

Solvent Selection for Carbon Capture from Emissions of Coal Fired Power Plants

“…Chemical absorption is the most understood of these technologies and there have been many experimental reports involving its practice. 6,[8][9][10][11] We believe that a chemical absorption system has the ability to be quickly implemented in an existing power plant because the process has been extensively studied and is well understood.…”