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10:55 AM - 11:15 AM |College Center 310

Application of Organic Compounds - N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and Diethanolamine (DEA) in Improving Indoor Air Quality

Isabelle Phan and Hieu Le
Date:

April 22nd, 2022

Division:

Technology

Department:

Chemistry; Physics

Mentor:

Erica Tseng and Cecilia Schreyer

Mentor's email:

ttseng5@occ.cccd.edu; cschreyer@occ.cccd.edu

Author's email:

tphan260@student.cccd.edu

Isabelle Phan and Hieu Le

Abstract:

Nowadays, we are facing a serious issue called Indoor Air Pollution. In fact, CO2 is the fourth most abundant gas in the earth's atmosphere. The increasing amount of carbon dioxide, CO2, leads to many health problems [1]. Currently, there are three solutions that show positive results in reducing CO2 level in the closed room context: Polyethylenimine (PEI) [2][3], N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) [4], and Diethanolamine (DEA) [5]. This study tested the effect of PEI, MDEA, and DEA in absorbing CO2 by using a Vernier sensor to measure the amount of CO2. Each chemical was absorbed at different temperatures after 600s. Experiments showed that MDEA and DEA are very effective in scrubbing CO2 from the atmosphere at optimal temperature. However, during the testing process, it is found that MDEA is more sensitive to CO2 than DEA in higher temperatures. Therefore, MDEA is an ideal substance that can be used as a CO2 absorbent in devices or ventilators designed to improve indoor air quality.

[1] Wisconsin Department of Health Services, nd. Carbon Dioxide. [internet: reference]. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/chemical/carbondioxide.htm. Accessed January 2022. [2] Wang, C., Biswas, S.K., and Okubayashi, S. 2020. Polyethylenimine-Impregnated mesoporous delignified wood with high mechanical strength for CO2/N2 selective adsorption. ACS Applied Nanomaterials 3, 6: 5499-5508.[ https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.0c00799] (https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.0c00799) [3] Irani, V., Khish, A.G., and Tavasoli, A. 2020. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles recovered from the catalytic converters of spent automotive exhaust systems and application for CO2 adsorption. Frontiers in Energy Research 8: 196.[ https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2020.00196] (https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2020.00196) [4] Jonassen,[ Ø] (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187661021402013X#!)., Kim, I., and Svendsen, H.F. 2014. Heat of absorption of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into aqueous N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and N,N-diemethylmonoethanolamine (DMMEA). Energy Procedia 63: 1890-1902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.198 [5] Mandal, B., and Bandyopadhyay, S.S. 2006. Simultaneous absorption of CO2 and H2S into aqueous blends of N-methyldiethanolamine and Diethanolamine. Environmental Science and Technology 40,19: 6076-6084.[ https://doi.org/10.1021/es0606475] (https://doi.org/10.1021/es0606475)