The evaluation of monoethanolamine-based CO₂ post-combustion capture process waste handling approaches considering the regulations in UAE

Monoethanolamine (MEA) is one of the solvents that has shown a good performance in CO₂ post-combustion capture application. Nonetheless, the waste that consists of heat stable salts and MEA degradation products is unavoidable although it has been reclaimed thermally. In this study, reclaimer waste from the CO₂ capture process is characterized and its compatibility for reuse application and biological handling is explored. Particularly, waste components and their properties are analysed from a reference case of fluor's Econamine FG^SM technology incorporating the other proven findings. MEA process waste can be deployed in NOx-SNCR scrubbing process directly. In addition, the installment of crystallization unit and KOH addition in reclaiming MEA can produce potassium sulfate that is useful for the other applications. This investigation incorporates the regulations in UAE, which suggest the need of treatment for MEA reclaimer waste by means of wastewater treatment technology (i.e. biological process). The treated wastewater can furthermore be reused for landscape irrigation, construction, and district cooling thus it can promote ecologically-sound CO₂ capture application in UAE.