Methods and current developments of the Solvay process for brine management and CO2 capture: a critical review

چکیده مقاله

The Solvay process is used to produce sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Simultaneous brine management and CO₂ capture occur by the Solvay process. In this review, the Solvay process based on different solutions (i.e. NH₃, KOH, CaO, Ca(OH)₂ and alcohol amines) is reviewed. The most efficient processes considering CO₂ uptake and Na⁺/Cl⁻ removal are introduced. The Solvay process benefits from increasing NH₃ content, salinity, stirring rate, decreasing temperature and using inert mixing particles in the reactor. Adding NH₄HCO₃, extra KOH in subsequent stages and brine pretreatment are recommended. The results show that a Ca(OH)₂-based Solvay process, an NH₃-based process running in contactor and reactor, and a 2-amino-2-methylpropanol-based Solvay process obtain the highest CO₂ capture efficiencies of 99, 98 and 80% respectively.