A high-pressure fixed bed reactor was used to study the formation condition of K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O and the significance of K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O in reducing the regeneration energy required for potassium-based sorbents. The reaction heat of K2CO3 converted into KHCO3 in the following reaction: K2CO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(g) <-> 2KHCO(3)(s), is approximately 143 kJ mol(-1)-CO2. This value is much larger than that of amine with CO2 (similar to 60 kJ mol(-1)-CO2). K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O can absorb CO2 with the reaction heat of 42 kJ mol(-1)-CO2 in the following reaction: K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O(s) + CO2(g) <-> 2KHCO(3)(s) + 0.5H(2)O(g). This result indicates that a large amount of heat (99 kJ mol(-1)-CO2) is released during the formation of K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O in the following reaction: K2CO3(s) + 1.5H(2)O(g) <-> K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O(s). The energy required for potassium-based sorbents can be potentially reduced when KHCO3 is converted into K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O in the regeneration process or when the heat released during the formation of K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O can be reused. Consequently, this work is focused on the investigation of the formation condition of K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O and the potential effect of K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O on the reduction of the energy required for potassium-based sorbents. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.