CO2 capture process through hybrid gas hydrate-membrane technology: Complex approach for the transition from theory to practice

The present study is concerned with a complex theoretical and experimental evaluation of the effect of various distribution coefficients on the hydrate crystallization process retrofitted with/without membrane in the process of the capture of carbon dioxide from flue gas (N2 (83.13 mol.%)/CO2 (16.87 mol.%)) at the low-pressure. A batch reactor with a stirrer was used to perform experiments under isothermal conditions of 275.5 K and initial pressure of 3.1 MPa, the aqueous solution with a TBAB concentration of 5.0 wt% in the presence of the 1500 ppm Tween-80 were tested. The following modes were studied: the pressure-dropping separation, separation at the constant pressure, and the continuous hydrate separation. The continuous hydrate separation with/without a membrane was modeled, and its experimental verification was carried out. It was shown that using a two-stage hydrate membrane technology with an increase in the distribution coefficient, the CO2 capture cost per ton decreased and could reach 35 $/ton, with a 92 % CO2 recovery and a CO2 residue flow of 0.4 mol.%.