Understanding Solvent Degradation in CO₂ Capture – CESAR1 Solvent Degradation in Pilot and Laboratory Scale

Key Findings

1. Nitrogen Tracking
   • CESAR1 contains nitrogen, a critical element in its chemical structure. The researchers analyzed nitrogen levels in the original solvent and its degradation byproducts. By quantifying nitrogen in known and identified degradation products, they accounted for 99% of the nitrogen from the degraded solvent. This high recovery rate highlights the effectiveness of their methodology and helps ensure that no significant or abundant degradation compounds are overlooked—an important step forward compared to previous methods, which could only identify around 2% of nitrogen-containing byproducts. 
2. New Degradation Compounds:
   • Two newly discovered compounds, HMeGly and AEAAC, were found in significant amounts. These compounds form during degradation, but their exact formation mechanisms remain a mystery.
3. Better Insights into Reactions:
   • The study compared real-world CESAR1 samples from a pilot plant to laboratory experiments. This helped identify the conditions that cause certain reactions to occur.

Why does this matter?

Degradation can reduce a solvent’s efficiency, increase costs, and even pose safety risks. For example:

• Efficiency: Degradation products can interfere with the solvent’s ability to absorb CO₂.
• Costs: Replacing degraded solvent and maintaining equipment increases operational expenses.
• Environmental Impact: In the unlikely event that some degradation products are released into the atmosphere, it is essential to assess their potential environmental impact and ensure they are benign. 

By identifying and quantifying degradation compounds, this research provides crucial insights that help us operate the process as safely and cost-efficiently as possible, ensuring the continued viability of CO₂ capture technologies.