Work

Regeneration of Spent Desiccants with Supercritical CO2

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) dehydrates desiccants such as silica gel, activated carbon, graphite, and molecular sieve by dissolving and emulsifying the water. Despite differences in the surface area of these desiccants, the amount of water removed under comparable conditions is the same. The main advantage of sCO 2 dewatering over conventional hot-air regeneration lies in situations where the exhaust contains environmentally sensitive components, e.g., in nuclear detritiation operations where the small footprint and closed cycle benefits of the sCO 2 process are especially significant. Calculations show that depressurizing the spent sCO 2 to half its initial pressure drops out most of the water, after which the CO 2 can be repressurized and reused. sCO 2 dewatering requires about half the energy needed for thermal drying because the water is removed nonevaporatively.

Source: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c03636

Authors: Astrid Melissa Rojas Márquez, Iris Beatriz Vega Erramuspe, Brian K. Via, Bhima Sastri, Sujit Banerjee

Institutions: Auburn University, United States Department of Energy, Georgia Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Phase Equilibria and Thermodynamics

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500