Improving the gas-solids contact efficiency in a fluidized bed of CO2 adsorbent fine particles.

A modified CO(2) adsorbent is obtained by dry mixing of a Ca(OH)(2) fine powder as received with a commercial silica nanopowder. Silica nanoparticles form light agglomerates of size of the order of tens of microns, which are uniformly fluidizable. These agglomerates act as dispersants of the Ca(OH)(2) fine particles, which coat the nanoparticle agglomerates likely due to contact charging. Ca(OH)(2) particles (CO(2) adsorbent) are thus provided with a vehicle for uniform fluidization. In this way, the contact efficiency between the CO(2) adsorbent and CO(2) in the fluidized bed is greatly enhanced. Experimental results show that the improvement of Ca(OH)(2) fluidizability serves to enhance the carbonation reaction in the fluidized bed. This journal is © the Owner Societies 2011