Novel Pilot-Scale Technology for Refinery Flare Flue Gas Carbon Capture and Storage Using Cost-Effective Adsorbents

• Main Authors: Abdulkadir Sarauta, Ibrahim Ali Mohammed Dabo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Symmetry
• Subjects: novel; refinery; gas-flaring; adsorbent; GHG; capture
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/13/5/807

This paper introduced the use of two new adsorbents, Akrosorb soda-lime and Bentonite clay, for refinery flare flue gas capture and storage. This study also developed a novel pilot plant model with 409.7149 kg/h capacity refinery flare emission capture with a novel adsorption column configuration using Akrosorb soda-lime and Bentonite clay adsorbents. The flare flue gas adsorption unit was designed, fabricated, test run, and commissioned. The adsorption column temperature is 28 ± 10 °C and has a pressure of 131.7 kPa. The novel plant RSM optimization result shows that 93.24% of CO₂ and 62.18% of CO were absorbed, while 86.14% of NO_x and 55.87% of HC were absorbed. The established optimum conditions of CO₂, NO_x, HC, and CO removal efficiency are 22 °C, 2 atm, and 60 min. The variation in flare gas emission could impact the removal efficiency of the plant. The results show the maximum adsorption ability or capacity of 314.30 mg/g, and 68.90 mg/g was reached at 60 min for Akrosorb soda-lime and molded Bentonite adsorbents. Therefore, the developed novel technology for CO₂ and other GHG capture is technically feasible and friendly. The combined usage of both adsorbents will enhance the capture of GHG at a low cost compared to using Akrosorb alone as an adsorbent.