Amine solvent degradation in CO2 capture

Supervisors: Professor M Pourkashanian, Professor L Ma, Professor K Hughes

CO2 capture and storage is believed to be a promising option for controlling CO2 emissions in the short to medium term. Several methods exist for CO2 capture, with amine capture being the most promising commercial technology at the present time. In this method, a series of degradation products with possible impact to the environment and human health may be formed. These substances may have a wide range of chemical characteristics, such as high pKa, low pKa, polar substituents, multifunctional and mono functional groups.

The goal of this project is to measure these species by various experimental techniques, and develop chemical kinetic and physical models that predict the degradation and emission of these substances within the amine capture plant, and additionally predict their atmospheric fate. This will make use of the UKCCSRC PACT facilities to provide experimental data from a pilot scale amine capture plant.

For further information contact Professor Derek B Ingham (d.ingham@sheffield.ac.uk).