This paper investigates CO2 absorption behavior in CO2BOL solvents by decoupling the physical and chemical effects using N2O as a nonreactive mimic. Absorption measurements were performed using a wetted-wall contactor. Testing was performed using a "first generation" CO2-binding organic liquid (CO2BOL), composed of an independent base and alcohol. Measurements were made with N2O at a lean (0.06 mol CO2/mol BOL) and rich (0.26 mol CO2/mol BOL) loading, each at three temperatures (35, 45, and 55 degrees C). Liquid-film mass transfer coefficients (kg') were calculated by subtracting the gas film resistance-determined from a correlation from literature-from the overall mass transfer measurement. The resulting kg' values for N2O in CO(2)BOLs were found to be higher than that of 5 M aqueous MEA under comparable conditions, which is supported by published measurements of Henrys coefficients for N2O in various solvents. These results suggest that the physical solubility contribution for CO2 absorption in CO(2)BOLs is greater than that of aqueous amines, an effect that may pertain to other nonaqueous solvents.