1 Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Communities, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S0A2, Canada; Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability Research, UR-BNU, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S0A2, Canada.
2 Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Communities, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S0A2, Canada; Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability Research, UR-BNU, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S0A2, Canada. Electronic address: guohe_huang@outlook.com.
3 Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Communities, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S0A2, Canada; Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability Research, UR-BNU, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S0A2, Canada. Electronic address: guanhuicheng@gmail.com.
4 Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada.

Wastewater treatment in amine-based carbon capture.

Chemosphere. 2019 May;222:742-756

Authors: Dong C, Huang G, Cheng G, An C, Yao Y, Chen X, Chen J

Abstract

Amine-based CO2 capture (ACC) has become one cost-effective method for reducing carbon emissions in order to mitigate climate changes. The amine-rich wastewater (ARWW) generated from ACC may contain a series of degradation products of amine-based solvents (ABSs). These products are harmful for ecological environment and human health. Effective and reliable ARWW treatment methods are highly required for mitigating the harmfulness. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive review of the existing limited methods that can guide ARWW-related technological advancements and treatment practices. To fill this gap, the review is achieved in this study. All available technologies for treating the ARWW from washwater, condenser, and reclaimer units in ACC are examined based on clarification of degradation mechanisms and ARWW compounds. A series of significant findings and recommendations are revealed through this review. For instance, ARWW treatment methods should be selected according to degradation conditions and pollution concentrations. UV light can be only used for treating wastewater from washwater and condenser units in ACC. Biological activated carbon is feasible for removing nitrosamines from washwater and condenser units. Sequence batch reactors, microbial fuel cells, and the other techniques for removing amines and similar degradation products are applicable for treating ARWW. This review provides scientific support for the selection and improvement of ARWW treatment techniques, the mitigation of ACC's consequences in environment, health and other aspects, and the extensive development and applications of ACC systems.

PMID: 30738317 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]