Study on the mass transfer behavior of single CO₂ bubbles in sodium silicate solution

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Mass Transfer Phenomena
• Carbon Capture Technologies

Background:

• Understanding CO2 mass transfer is crucial for industrial processes like white carbon black production.
• Sodium silicate solutions are utilized in various chemical applications, influencing CO2 behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively investigate the mass transfer characteristics of a single CO2 bubble in sodium silicate solutions.
• To analyze the impact of solution concentration, pH, liquid level, and static pressure on CO2 dissolution and absorption rates.

Main Methods:

• High-speed camera technology for tracking bubble dynamics.
• MATLAB for detailed data processing of bubble velocity, drag, and mass transfer coefficients.
• Kinetic modeling to analyze reaction mechanisms and absorption rates.

Main Results:

• Sodium silicate concentration significantly impacts CO2 bubble dissolution; higher concentrations accelerate dissolution.
• Increased pH (11.0 vs. 10.5) enhances CO2 absorption rate, following a pseudo-first-order reaction model.
• Static pressure positively correlates with initial CO2 absorption, with distinct stages observed in the absorption process.

Conclusions:

• Solution parameters like concentration and pH critically influence CO2 mass transfer and reaction kinetics.
• Established empirical correlations provide a basis for optimizing carbonization processes.
• The findings offer valuable insights for both research and practical applications in CO2 absorption and white carbon black production.