Experimental studies of CO2 and NO mitigation using potential adsorbents in a standby power generation unit

Abstract

This current investigation evaluates the feasibility of employing potential adsorbents obtained from various biomass waste substances, namely, (i) coconut shell, (ii) rice husk, and (iii) eucalyptus wood, for carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture applications. Activated carbons are obtained from abundantly available renewable biomass residues by single-stage activation. The adsorption properties are evaluated using advanced techniques. Further, the adsorbents are packed in an in-house fabricated post-combustion adsorption chamber. In this investigation, the feasibility of employing adsorbents for capturing CO₂ and NO by using an adsorption technique in a diesel engine-operated standby diesel generator set intended to supply electrical power to a guest house, hostels, faculty quarters, and residential area in an educational institution in India is investigated. Essential parameters such as (i) maximum adsorption capacity, (ii) fractional adsorption kinetics, (iii) regenerability and reusability, (iv) dynamic adsorption of the breakthrough curve, and (v) isosteric enthalpy of adsorption of adsorbent samples are also examined. Compared to the other adsorbents examined, eucalyptus wood adsorbent mitigates CO₂ and NO by 50% and 36% at full load, respectively.