Enhancement of the absorption of CO2 in alkaline buffer solutions: Joint action of two enhancers

We measured the absorption of CO2 in alkaline 0.5 M/0.5 M sodium carbonate/ bicarbonate buffers containing either saccharose and sodium arsenite or sac charose and formaldehyde. Absorption enhancement increased upon increasing the concentration of either of the catalysts, but the joint action of the t wo was always less than the sum of their individual effects, the difference being a function of the acidities and concentrations of the catalysts and the pH of the carbonate/bicarbonate buffer solution.