In this article

the industrial process of CO

2

capture using monoethanolamine as an aqueous solvent was probed carefully from the mass transfer viewpoint. The simulation of this process was done using Rate-Base model

based on two-film theory. The results were validated against real plant data. Compared to the operational unit

the error of calculating absorption percentage and CO

2

loading was estimated around 2%. The liquid temperature profiles calculated by the model agree well with the real temperature along the absorption tower

emphasizing the accuracy of this model. Operational sensitivity analysis of absorption tower was also done with the aim of determining sensitive parameters for the optimized design of absorption tower and optimized operational conditions. Hence

the sensitivity analysis was done for the flow rate of gas

the flow rate of solvent

flue gas temperature

inlet solvent temperature

CO

2

concentration in the flue gas

loading of inlet solvent

and MEA concentration in the solvent. CO

2

absorption percentage

the profile of loading

liquid temperature profile and finally profile of CO

2

mole fract

ion in gas phase along the absorption tower were studied. To elaborate mass transfer phenomena

enhancement factor

interfacial area

molar flux and liquid hold up were probed. The results show that regarding the CO

2

absorption

the most important parameter was the gas flow rate. Comparing liquid temperature profiles showed that the most important parameter affecting the temperature of the rich solvent was MEA concentration.