CO2 recovery from flue gas by PSA process using activated carbon

An experimental study was performed for the recovery of CO2 from flue gas o f the electric power plant by pressure swing adsorption process. Activated carbon was used as an adsorbent. The equilibrium adsorption isotherms of pu re component and breakthrough curves of their mixture (CO2: N-2: O-2=17 : 7 9 : 4 vol%) were measured. pressure equalization step and product purge ste p were added to basic 4-step PSA fur the recovery of strong adsorbates. Thr ough investigation of the effects of each step and total feed rate, highly concentrated CO2 could be obtained by increasing the adsorption time, produ ct purge time, and evacuation time simultaneously with full pressure-equali zation. Based on the basic results, the 3-bed, 8-step PSA cycle with the pr essure equalization and product purge step was organized. Maximum product p urity of CO2 was 99.8% and recovery was 34%.