Measurements and Correlations of Diffusivities of Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide in Monoethanolamine + Water by Laminar Liquid Jet

Abstract

The molecular diffusivities of nitrous oxide (N2O) with aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions up to 12 M were studied over a temperature range from 298.15 to 333.15 K under atmospheric pressure using a laminar liquid jet absorber. The diffusivities of CO2 in aqueous MEA solutions were calculated by the “N2O analogy” method. A simple and effective thermal control technique was used to control the temperatures of gas and liquid in the laminar liquid jet absorber. The rates of absorption were determined by measuring the flow of gas needed to replace the gas absorbed. The results showed that the diffusivities of both N2O and CO2 into aqueous MEA solution decrease with the increase of the concentration of MEA, and increase with an increase of the temperature of the solution. The relationship between the diffusivity and the viscosity of the solution roughly agrees with the modified Stokes–Einstein equation, but an exponent mathematical model was employed to simulate the diffusivity data and shows a better agreement between data and model for the diffusivity of N2O and CO2 in the monoethanolamine + water system.