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DEA degradation mechanism

Journal Article · · Hydrocarbon Process.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6110446
Examines factors that increase diethanolamine (DEA) degradation, which reportedly depends on temperature, pressure, gas composition, amine concentration, pH of the amine solution and the presence of metal ions. Plant operators have tried to solve the problem by changing operating conditions and/or installing activated carbon filters. DEA degradation is frequently experienced in gas plants used for removing acidic gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from light hydrocarbons. Experimental results reveal that degradation is governed by: solubility of CO/sub 2/ in the DEA solution; degree of dissociation of the DEA molecules in solution; interaction of DEA and CO/sub 2/ molecules and/or ionic complexes. Most, or all, these phenomena are affected by temperature, pressure, DEA concentration and pH. A series of tests to determine whether activated carbon is capable of removing impurities from partially degraded DEA solutions showed that this treatment did not remove any major degradation compounds from the solutions.
Research Organization:
The University of British Columbia, Vancover, BC
OSTI ID:
6110446
Journal Information:
Hydrocarbon Process.; (United States), Journal Name: Hydrocarbon Process.; (United States) Vol. 61:10; ISSN HYPRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English