Solid sorbent enhanced water-gas shift process for pre-combustion CO ₂ capture

URS and ISGS-UIUCare investigating the use of solid sorbents to capture CO₂ from a gasified coal stream as part of the water-gas shift reaction. This sorbent enhanced water-gas shift (SEWGS) process takes place at higher temperatures and pressures than more traditional pre-combustion CO ₂ capture processes thereby reducing associated energy penalties. The team's approach is to use first principle modeling (e.g., thermodynamic, molecular simulation) to drive novel sorbent synthesis and to integrate these tailored sorbents into an optimized SEWGS process. Results of sorbent synthesis, analytical characterization, and CO₂ adsorption testing will be discussed. A new laboratory reactor system, capable of integrated sorbent regeneration and capable of operating at high pressures and temperatures with a simulated syn-gas containing contaminants (e.g., H₂S), will be described. Special attention will be paid to results from tests performed at SEWGS conditions evaluating both the tolerance of sorbents for gas phase impurities as well as sorbent cycle life.