**4. Process simulation with the rate-based approach**

In a recent work, Bonalumi et al. [40] adopt the rate-based approach to assess the same cooled aqueous ammonia process that they investigated earlier with the equilibrium approach [36]. **Table 5** summarizes the main results from the comparison of the performances predicted by the two approaches. The overall energy balance for the kinetic study, compared against the equilibrium study, turns to be only slightly penalized. The authors explain that this penalization originates from the larger request of energy to achieve a higher level of CO2 purity in the lean stream from the regenerator. The differences being moderate, though, the study of an absorption capture plant with the equilibrium approach can be considered a valid method for a preliminary assessment of an ammonia-based process.


**Table 5.** Performances of the cooled process computed with the equilibrium and the rate-based approaches by Bonalumi et al. [34, 36].
