Techno-economic evaluation and comparative analysis of the CO₂ separation processes using different piperazine-mixed amine absorbents

CO₂ separation using an amine, particularly monoethanolamine (MEA), is widely used in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) applications. Despite its technical and economic merits, new amines and improved systems, e.g., small-size processes that consume less utilities, must be developed to reduce capital and operating costs. To achieve this, the technical feasibility of new CO₂ separation processes using different amines, particularly piperazine-mixed amines was studied, along with a comparatively analysis of its economic competitiveness against conventional systems. Process modeling and simulation for CO piperazine-mixed amines separation processes were conducted using nine different amines: three single amines (MEA, diethanolamine and methyldiethanolamine) and six mixed amines by mixing the single amines with different amounts of piperazine. Using process models, capital and operating costs of the processes were analyzed. A comparative analysis of the economics of the processes based on the CO piperazine-mixed amines processing cost was performed. The sensitivity of major parameters to the process economics with various technical and market scenarios is discussed.