Optimum Particle Size of Treated Calcites for CO₂ Capture in a Power Plant

This work has analyzed the influence of the particle size of a calcite from a quarry, whether original, calcined, or rehydrated, on the efficiency of CO₂ capture of the gases emitted in a coal-fired power plant. Three different particle sizes 0.5 mm, 0.1 mm, and 0.045 mm have been studied. The calcination had a minimal effect on the particle size of the smaller samples A1045 and A1M1 (<30 μm). The N₂ isotherms and the CO₂ adsorption isotherms at 0 °C showed a very significant increase in the surface of the calcined and rehydrated samples (A15CH, A1045CH, and A1M1CH) with respect to the calcined or original samples. The results obtained showed that the capture of CO₂ for the sample A1M1, with a smaller average particle size (<30 μm, is the most effective. For the sample A1M1 calcined and completely rehydrated (Ca(OH)₂), the chemical adsorption of CO₂ to form CaCO₃ is practically total, under the experimental conditions used (550 °C and CO₂ flow of 20 mL min^-1). The weight increase was 34.11% and the adsorption capacity was 577.00 mg g^-1. The experiment was repeated 10 times with the same sample A1M1 calcined and rehydrated. No appreciable loss of adsorption capacity was observed.