The effect of both the physical and chemical (i.e. catalyst acid sites) characteristics of two solid acid catalysts (HZSM-5 and γ-Al2O3) on the liquid-side mass transfer performance were studied for the desorption of CO2 from a CO2-loaded optimum primary-tertiary solvent blend (5M-MEA+2M-MDEA) in packed catalyst bed desorption column operating in full cycle. The results showed that the mass transfer coefficient increased by an average of 7% and 15% using γ-Al2O3 and HZSM-5 catalysts, respectively at a CO2 desorption temperature of 85oC. A 14% increase in mass transfer coefficient using the blended MEA-MDEA solvent over MEA was also observed at 85oC.