CO2 capture from industrial point sources and further development of amine reclaimer waste handling by incineration and biological treatment, 2014

Since 2010 Tel-Tek has worked together with industry and research partners in a project which is divided into the following work packages: WP1 CO2 capture and energy integration, WP2 Amine waste analysis, WP3 Biological degradation of amine reclaimer waste, and WP4 NOx reduction potential of amine reclaimer waste. This project started in 2010 and ended in 2014.

WP1: The process simulation tools Aspen Hysys and Aspen Plus are used to investigate a monoethanolamine (MEA) based post combustion CO2 capture system for Hydro Aluminium's production plant in Sunndal. The scope of this project includes a CO2 content analysis, an energy analysis, and a CO2 capture rate analysis. The CO2 content and capture rate analysis are aimed at finding the optimal concentration of CO2 in Hydro Aluminium's process gas with respect to CO2 capture efficiency and specific reboiler duty.

WP2: The literature has been studied in order to see what have previously been done within the field chromatographic analysis of amine waste originating from a CO2 capture unit. It is well known that the amine used for capturing CO2 over time will be degraded due to reactions with impurities like NOx and SOx in the capture system. The degraded products are considered as hazardous waste according to Norwegian and EU regulations and needs to be treated in a responsible way. The composition of a degraded sample will vary depending on the type of process and operation condition.

WP3: Anaerobic biodegradation of carbon capture MEA waste is studied experimentally. A hybrid fluidized bed reactor system is constructed for this purpose.

WP4: This study investigates the possibility of using ARW as a potential liquid reduction agent for NOx emissions control through SNCR in industrial combustion processes, in particular in precalciner cement kiln systems, which are also well suited for burning organic hazardous wastes. Laboratory experiments with ammonia, MEA and ARW were carried out at the Technical University of Denmark, and the results were compared with those from full-scale tests with ammonia and MEA, carried out at the Norcem cement plant in Brevik, Norway. The goals of the project were threefold: 1) Find out to what extent ARW can be used for NOx reduction via SNCR, 2) Determine optimum process conditions for NOx reduction with ARW, and 3) Investigate limitations to the use of ARW in SNCR.