A Multiscale Approach for Evaluating UTSA-16 Adsorbent for Post Combustion Carbon Capture

Abstract

UTSA-16 is considered as one of most promising Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for post combustion carbon capture in a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process. Current studies base their predictions on the equilibrium information for the crystalline material and assuming that the mass transfer is dominated by macropore diffusion. Performance of the real process depends not only on the equilibrium adsorption characteristics, but also on the morphology and mass transfer characteristics of the pellet. In this study, we use a series of complementary techniques to first characterize UTSA-16 pellets and develop a detailed understanding of the mass-transfer mechanisms in these pellets. Using the obtained data, we performed process simulations and optimization to explore performance of real UTSA-16 pellets in carbon capture VSA cycle. We have optimized a 4-step cycle with light product pressurization to identify operating conditions with minimum energy and maximum productivity subject to purity-recovery targets. Further, the performance of UTSA-16 was compared with that of the reference material Zeolite 13X.