# US 10,118,123 B2 · Process for the removal of heat stable salts from acid gas absorbents

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- Number: US 10,118,123 B2
- Document ID: US10118123B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/634,569
- Filed: 2011-03-17
- Published: 2013-08-01
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-17
- Assignees: Shell Oil Company
- Applicants: Vijay Bhambhani Godhwani; John Nicholas Sarlis
- Inventors: Vijay Bhambhani Godhwani; John Nicholas Sarlis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118123B2

## CPC

- B01D 53/1425: {Regeneration of liquid absorbents}
- B01D 53/1493: {Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents}
- B01J 20/20: comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
- B01J 39/08: Use of material as cation exchangers; Treatment of material for improving the cation exchange properties
- B01D 2251/21: Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D2251/206 or B01D2251/208
- B01D 2251/30: Alkali metal compounds
- B01D 2251/304: of sodium
- B01D 2251/40: Alkaline earth metal or magnesium compounds
- B01D 2257/302: Sulfur oxides
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

A process for the regeneration of an acid gas absorbent comprising an amine and heat stable salts by phase separation, comprising a) mixing the acid gas absorbent with an alkaline solution, to form a mixture with a pH above the pH equivalence point of the amine; b) cooling the mixture to a temperature below 500 C; c) separating the mixture into a regenerated acid gas absorbent and a waste stream; d) collecting the regenerated acid gas absorbent separate from the waste stream.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the regeneration of an acid gas absorbent comprising an amine and heat stable salts by phase separation, comprising:
a) mixing the acid gas absorbent with an alkaline solution, to form a mixture with a pH above the pH equivalence point of the amine, wherein the acid gas absorbent comprises in the range of from 15 up to 40 wt % of amine based on the total weight of the acid gas absorbent;
b) cooling the mixture to a temperature below 50° C.;
c) separating the mixture into a regenerated acid gas absorbent and a waste stream; and
d) collecting the regenerated acid gas absorbent separated from the waste stream.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein step c) is performed by leaving the mixture undisturbed for at least 30 minutes to allow separation of the regenerated acid gas absorbent and the waste stream.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the acid gas absorbent is an aqueous amine solvent.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the acid gas absorbent comprises in the range of from 10 to 25 wt % of sulfate based on the total weight of the acid gas absorbent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the acid gas absorbent comprises in the range of from 13 up to 16 wt % of sulfate, in the range of from 23 up to 27 wt % of the amine and in the range of from 57 up to 64 wt % of water, in such amounts that the total equals 100 wt %.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the alkaline solution comprises a Group I or a Group II hydroxide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture has a pH in the range of from 10 to 13.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein mixing takes place in a stirred tank reactor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A process according to claim 8, wherein the stirred tank reactor furthermore comprises a recirculation loop.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is cooled to a temperature in the range of from 20 to 45° C.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein a top layer comprises the regenerated acid gas absorbent and a bottom layer comprises the waste stream.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein the regenerated acid gas absorbent is further treated according to the following step:
e) treating the regenerated acid gas absorbent via cationic ion exchange to remove a Group I or Group II metal compound present in the regenerated absorbent.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A process according to claim 12, wherein the regenerated acid gas absorbent is further treated according to the following step:
f) treating the regenerated acid gas absorbent with activated carbon to remove at least hydrocarbons.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A process according to claim 13, wherein the regenerated acid gas absorbent is further treated according to the following step:
g) passing the regenerated acid gas absorbent through a filtration and/or microfiltration unit.