Investigating best available technique for CO2 chemical absorption: solvent selection based on empirical surrogate model and exergy loss

Abstract The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has reached extremely high levels, generating environmental concerns. Unfortunately, despite climate change, CO 2 is not included nowadays as a key issue Best Available Technique (BAT) reference documents (BREF). Industrially, widespread industrial technology to capture chemical absorption using aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) at 30%wt, which basis of comparison for novel alternative techniques literature and seems suitable candidate be proposed Technique. Nevertheless, there an intense research find solvents that decrease energy consumption many are claimed outperform MEA. A empirical surrogate model exergy balances used confirm MEA still best this study properly regresses gas liquid equilibrium data. regressed parameters tabulated alkanolamines their mixtures, being computationally inexpensive column design. parameter considering temperature related with consumed solvent recovery. obtained results show none considered alkanolamine outperforms all aspects, i.e. flowrate. minimum flowrate 15.62 mol solvent/mol its heat regression − 27,745 J/mol. mathematical method useful fast assessment other alternatives will future, providing energetically more efficient cleaner technologies capture. Graphic abstract