A study on the reaction between CO2 and alkanolamines in aqueous solutions

Literature data on the rates of reaction between CO2 and alkanolamines (MEA, DEA, DIPA, TEA and MDEA) in aqueous solution are discussed. These data induced us to carry out absorption experiments of CO2 into aqueous DEA, DIPA, TEA and MDEA solutions from which the respective rate constants were derived. The experimental technique was similar to that used earlier. The results for DEA and DIPA were analysed by means of a zwitterion-mechanism which was derived from an earlier proposed mechanism, and were found to fit the model extremely well. The reaction rate of CO2 with aqueous TEA and MDEA solutions shows a significant base catalysis effect which was also reported earlier. The results for TEA correspond very well with that results