An increase in atmospheric CO₂ from industrial combustion underscores the need for improved post-combustion capture technologies. Chemical absorption remains the most flexible and scalable option. This study reports the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of a laboratoryscale packed column for CO₂ absorption from a simulated flue gas (20% CO₂ in N₂) using 20 wt% aqueous potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃). The glass column (1.5 m height, 0.05 m diameter) was packed with 10 mm Raschig rings and operated in counter-current mode. Experiments varied gas superficial velocities (0.2–1.0 m/s corresponding to 1–5 L/min), solvent flow rates (0.2–1.0 L/min), and temperatures (298–353 K). Hydrodynamic characterization included pressure-drop, flooding limits, and liquid distribution; mass-transfer performance was evaluated via CO₂ removal efficiency and overall volumetric mass-transfer coefficient (Kₗa) using Onda correlations. Results show up to ~78–80% CO₂ removal at low gas flows (1 L/min) and elevated temperatures (50– 70°C), with Kₗa increasing with solvent flow. Pressure-drop measurements indicated stable operation below ~0.35 m/s and onset of flooding beyond ~0.4 m/s. K₂CO₃ exhibited thermal stability and low corrosivity under the tested conditions. The constructed packed column offers an effective, low-maintenance approach for CO₂ absorption and provides experimentally validated data for scale-up and optimization of carbonate-based capture systems. The results deliver practical operating windows and baseline mass-transfer and hydrodynamic parameters to guide pilot-scale implementation and techno-economic assessment effectively, and future integration with industrial waste-heat systems.