Long-Term Behavior of CaO-Based Pellets Supported by Calcium Aluminate Cements in a Long Series of CO2 Capture Cycles

A series of carbonation/calcination tests consisting of 1000 cycles was performed with CaO-based pellets prepared using hydrated lime and calcium aluminate cement. The change in CO2 carrying capacity of the sorbent was investigated in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) apparatus and the morphology of residues after those cycles in the TGA was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Larger quantities of sorbent pellets underwent 300 carbonation/calcination cycles in a tube furnace (TF), and their properties were examined by nitrogen physisorption tests (BET and BJH). The crushing strength of the pellets before and after the CO2 cycles was determined by means of a custom-made strength testing apparatus. The results showed high CO2 carrying capacity in long series of cycles with an extremely high residual activity of the order of 28%. This superior performance is a result of favorable morphology due to the existence of large numbers of nanosized pores suitable for carbonation. This morphology is relatively stable during cycles due to the presence of mayenite (Ca12Al14O33) in the CaO structure. However, the crushing tests showed that pellets lost strength after 300 carbonation/calcination cycles, and this appears to be due to the cracks formed in the pellets. This effect was not observed in smaller particles suitable for use in fluidized bed (FBC) systems.