Feasibility of CO2 capture by MEA solvent in blue hydrogen production from waste plastics

Abstract

As global energy demand gradually increases due to environmental concerns, hydrogen production integrated with a carbon capture system has emerged as a highly anticipated solution in the sustainable energy field. This study primarily focuses on the viability of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) system utilizing monoethanolamine (MEA) as the solvent from the flue gas which was previously derived from hydrogen (H₂) production from waste plastics through a three-phase process involving pyrolysis, steam methane reforming (SMR) and the water–gas shift reaction. The entire system has been modelled through extensive simulations in Aspen Plus software and successfully validated using pilot plant data. As a result, the feasibility of CO₂ capture has been successfully investigated throughout the procedure. Moreover, by optimising the process, the system has achieved carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture efficiencies of up to 99.4 % with an optimal lean flow rate of approximately 400 kg/h, while the peak CO₂ loading has reached around 3.4723 in the rich outstream. Modifications to the packed height and diameter of the absorber and stripper units have also significantly enhanced process efficiency and optimized energy consumption. These advancements have highlighted the potential for substantial improvements in CO₂ capture technologies and underscored the critical role of simulation tools in advancing environmentally sustainable hydrogen production.