A review of different solvents, mass transfer, and hydrodynamics for postcombustion CO₂ capture

There is a growing environmental concern regarding carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from human activities that result in global warming or climate change. To tackle this potential problem, it is crucial to develop CO₂ capture technologies. This paper reviews the current status of postcombustion carbon capture by absorption in packed column using different solvents. The major concerns with the selection of absorbent, such as absorption rate, CO₂ absorption capacity, CO₂ solubility, environmental cost, and toxicity, are discussed. The hydrodynamics and mass-transfer performance of CO₂ absorption in a packed column are reviewed. The determinant factors of CO₂ absorption, including effective interfacial area and mass-transfer coefficients in different contactors, are discussed. Liquid holdup and pressure-drop models are investigated.