Stability of a Monoethanolamine-CO Zwitterion at the Vapor/Liquid Water Interface: Implications for Low Partial Pressure Carbon Capture Technologies.

The need to chemically convert CO at the interface of aqueous amine solutions has become particularly relevant for the development and the broad distribution of cost-effective and near-future devices for direct air capture working at low (e.g., ambient) partial pressure. Here, we have determined the stability of a CO-monoethanolamine zwitterion and its chemical conversion into carbamate at the vapor/liquid water interface by first-principles molecular dynamics simulations coupled with a recently introduced enhanced sampling technique. Contrary to the bulk water case, our results show that both the zwitterion and carbamate ions are poorly stable at the vapor/amine aqueous interface, further stating the differences between the homogeneous and heterogeneous CO chemical conversion. The design of novel and cost-effective capture systems, such as those offered by amine-based scrubbing solutions, working at low (e.g., ambient) CO partial pressure should explore the use of novel solvents, different from aqueous mixtures, to overcome the limits of the current absorbents.