Modeling and simulation of an enzymatic reactive absorption process in the internal zone of a rotating packed bed apparatus

A kinetic model of carbon dioxide absorption within an internal of a rotating packed bed (RPB) apparatus was developed using experimental data. Kinetics of the chemical reaction between carbon dioxide and aqueous solution of N-methyldiethanolamine with and without carbonic anhydrase additive were determined in a flat phase contact surface batch stirred reactor and implemented into the model. Overall pressure drop and absorption efficiency within a metal foam internal were modeled and compared with experimental measurements. The model's predictions of CO2 absorption and pressure drop fit mostly within 20% error range. Validated model served as a tool for further absorption process simulations and sensitivity analysis. This work was supported by the joint Polish-Czech project: no. UMO-2020/39/I/ST8/01381 financed by the National Science Centre, Poland, and no. GA 21-45227L financed by the Czech Science Foundation.