Recent advances in ultrasound-assisted CO2 absorption/desorption processes: A review

Abstract

In the last decades, many researchers from around the world have made great efforts to find a highly efficient, low energy consumption, and definitely, environmentally friendly technique for CO₂ capture. Ultrasound-assisted absorption/ desorption processes is the subject of the present review. The use of ultrasound irradiations has emerged as one of the useful improving approaches in terms of heat and mass transfer enhancement as well as reduction in regeneration energy consumption by allowing the process to be performed at lower temperatures than the conventional method. In just over a decade, some various studies on sono-assisted absorption/desorption processes have been carried out, all of which have reported the brilliant results in terms of mass transfer enhancement and energy saving. Some unique phenomena induced by ultrasound including acoustic cavitation, acoustic fountain, atomization, and free radical production are responsible for its fantastic effects on CO₂ absorption and desorption performance. This paper summarizes the research literature regarding the application of ultrasound interference in CO₂ absorption/desorption systems published since the start of research in this field. Assessment of different contributing factors, scalability and research gaps have also been addressed.