Amine gas treatment

gas sweetening; acid gas removal refers to a group of processes that use aqueous solutions of various alkylamines (RNH2) to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from gases
Diethanolamine (DEA) Monoethanolamine (MEA) Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) Diisopropanolamine (DIPA) Aminoethoxyethanol (Diglycolamine) (DGA)

 In oil refineries, that stripped gas is mostly H2S, much of which often comes from a sulfur-removing process called HDS. This H2S-rich stripped gas stream is then usually routed into a Claus process to convert it into S. In fact, the vast majority of the 64,000,000 tons of S produced worldwide in 2005 was byproduct sulfur from refineries and other hydrocarbon processing plants.

ADIP PROCESS
The ADIP process covers the use of the aqueous solution of diisopropanol amine (DIPA) and the aqueous solution of methyldiethanol amine (MDEA).

Absorber operating pressure can be up to 150 bar.

Gas temperature can vary from ambient up to 60C.

Chemical Removal of H2S

Oxidizers Neutralizers (organic amines, inorganic bases) Metals Reactants Organic Bases Triazines Formaldehyde, Acrolein Effective in a wide range of fuels
Minimizes number of additives needed Reduces product rejections and shipping delays Reduces additive odor, corrosion and safety problems

Oxidizers Very fast

Water soluble products, sulfites

Amine Neutralizers
Fast reaction No sodium lower-temperature applications

Inorganic Bases
Fast reaction, cheap Use alone or in combination Thermally stable products

Reaction is reversible Explosive not selective for S Weak acid/base equilibrium compounds - react regenerate H2S with other under certain components of the conditions oil Wastewater effects Not used increased nitrogen

Dangerous

Non-selective for H2S Reaction is reversible Ash forming Increases fuel sodium content Limited safe injection temperature

Specialty chemical conversion reagents (Scavenger)

This type of additive reacts with H2S irreversibly to form thermally stable reaction products Economical costs and fast reaction
Water-soluble scavengers Oil-soluble scavengers Metal-based scavengers Non-nitrogen and polymeric aqueous-based scavengers are also available.

Water-soluble scavengers
the most common scavengers often the product of choice for applications at temperatures below 200F (93C). Economical costs and fast reaction Moreover, due to their water solubility, they add a minimum amount of nitrogen to the fuel.

 A common type of water-soluble H2S scavenger is a triazine-based chemistry.

By reducing the concentration of H2S in storage tank headspace, use of an H2S scavenger reduced corrosion rates measured on the tank roofs from nearly 14 to < 1 mils per year (0.36 to 0.0254 mm per year).

Oil-soluble scavengers
Oil-soluble scavengers are used in hightemperature applications from ambient up to 350F (177C) or when water tolerance of the hydrocarbon is an issue. These products are typically amine based and perform as effectively as water-soluble additives the product of choice for viscous heavy oils and resins

Metal-based scavengers
Metal-based scavengers answer the specific needs of very high temperature and high-H2S concentration applications. provide H2S reduction levels that other H2S scavengers cannot achieve increased reactivity with H2S

H2S + SULFIX product Inert S species

(Baker Huges)

Advantages: Non-reversible at typical usage temperatures Rapid reaction depending on mixing and dosage Selective for H2S May be used at high temperature and with caustic (KOH, NaOH) Extensive no-harm testing Successful industry track-record Effective in wide range of fuels

UOP Amine Guard FS process

UCARSOL (MDEA based solvent) Features: High thermal and chemical stability Non-corrosive (no corrosion inhibitors needed) achieve very low residual H2S & CO2 content of product gas Non foaming

Conventional (absorber + thermal regeneration)

SulfaTreat (Schlumberger)
A blend of iron oxides The process is a fixed bed system for treating gas or vapor streams