Theoretical and Economic Evaluation of Low-Cost Deep Eutectic Solvents for Effective Biogas Upgrading to Bio-Methane

Edyta Słupek, Patrycja Makoś and Jacek Gębicki
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Edyta Słupek: Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, G. Narutowicza St. 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Patrycja Makoś: Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, G. Narutowicza St. 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Jacek Gębicki: Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, G. Narutowicza St. 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: This paper presents the theoretical screening of 23 low-cost deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as absorbents for effective removal of the main impurities from biogas streams using a conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS). Based on thermodynamic parameters, i.e., the activity coefficient, excess enthalpy, and Henry’s constant, two DESs composed of choline chloride: urea in a 1:2 molar ratio (ChCl:U 1:2), and choline chloride: oxalic acid in a 1:2 molar ratio (ChCl:OA 1:2) were selected as the most effective absorbents. The σ-profile and σ-potential were used in order to explain the mechanism of the absorptive removal of CO 2 , H 2 S, and siloxanes from a biogas stream. In addition, an economic analysis was prepared to demonstrate the competitiveness of new DESs in the sorbents market. The unit cost of 1 m 3 of pure bio-methane was estimated to be in the range of 0.35–0.37 EUR, which is comparable to currently used technologies.

Keywords: biogas; deep eutectic solvents; upgrading; absorption; COSMO-RS; economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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