CO_2 emission reduction is now urgently required as global warming intensifies. However, the high cost of capturing CO_2 seriously restricts its development. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a high-effective carbon capture technology. Diethyl carbonate (DEC) is a novel CO_2 absorbent. CO_2 solubility in DEC was experimentally determined by the constant volume method at the range of 282.79~302.69 K, at same time which was predicted by Prausnitz-Shair method, Molecular Connectivity Index and Peng-Robinson (PR) equation of state. It is showed that the Henry constants of DEC are smaller than those of DMC at the same temperature by comparison of their phase equilibrium data. The continuous absorption and desorption experimental apparatus and process simulation were applied to study on the performance of DEC capturing CO_2. The effects of the liquid-gas ratio, absorption temperature, desorption temperature (if thermal desorption was adopted) and N_2 flow (if gas stripping desorption was adopted) on CO_2 absorptivity were studied and the optimal operation conditions were obtained. Through comparison with DMC, it was found that using N_2 gas stripping desorption the system cost of DEC is smaller than that of DMC. Because of the high energy consumption of thermal desorption and high solvent loss of gas stripping desorption, a novel desorption process was applied, which was modified by applying compression and condensation to desorb the loaded liquid. It simplifies the process and its system cost is smaller than that of thermal desorption, but larger than that of gas stripping desorption. It's found the results of DEC is better than that of DMC. Results show that DEC is a potential CO_2 absorbent.