Experimental Test and Modeling Validation for CO2 Capture with Amine Solvents in a Pilot Plant

The European Union’s enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for 2030 make the large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies essential to achieve deep decarbonization goals. Within this context, this study aims to advance CCS research by developing and testing a pilot-scale system that integrates gasification for syngas and power production with CO2 absorption and solvent regeneration. The work focuses on improving and validating the operability of a pilot plant section designed for CO2 capture, capable of processing up to 40 kg CO2 per day through a 6 m absorber and stripper column. Experimental campaigns were carried out using different amine-based absorbents under varied operating conditions and liquid-to-gas (L/G) ratios to evaluate capture efficiency, stability, and regeneration performance. The physical properties of regenerated and CO2-saturated solvents (density, viscosity, pH, and CO2 loading) were analyzed as potential indicators for monitoring solvent absorption capacity. In parallel, a process simulation and optimization study was developed in Aspen Plus, implementing a split-flow configuration to enhance energy efficiency. The combined experimental and modeling results provide insights into the optimization of solvent-based CO2 capture processes at pilot scale, supporting the development of next-generation capture systems for low-carbon energy applications.