Phase behavior of liquid crystals with CO2.
Liquid crystals are being considered as novel process solvents for CO(2) capture. The solubility of CO(2) is higher in the isotropic phase than in the structured (e.g., nematic) phase. CO(2) can be captured in the isotropic phase, and regeneration of the solvent is achieved by cooling down the mixture a few degrees until a phase transition to the structured phase occurs. This CO(2) capture process has the potential to consume less energy than the conventional amine-based processes. To address the potential of liquid crystals to efficiently capture CO(2), experimentally obtained P,T-phase diagrams of five liquid crystals with 5 mass % CO(2) are reported. The liquid crystals used in this study are 4'-(pentyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile, 4'-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile, 4-ethyl-4'-propyl-bicyclohexyl, 4-propyl-4'-butyl-bicyclohexyl, and 4'-(octyloxy)-4-biphenylcarbonitrile. It is found that a weakly polar liquid crystal had a higher CO(2) solubility than apolar and more polar liquid crystals.
Engineering Thermodynamics, Process & Energy Department, Delft University of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 44, 2628 CA Delft, The Netherlands.
Mariëtte
M
de Groen
Thijs J H
TJ
Vlugt
Theo W
TW
de Loos