Process for monitoring alkanolamine solutions

A process for directly monitoring the anion and sodium cation concentration in an alkanolamine solution which comprises:

• (a) introducing an alkanolamine solution containing anions and sodium cations to a contacting zone;
• (b) thereafter introducing to the contacting zone a solid anion exchange resin in the OH.sup.- form in an amount in excess of that required to exchange all of the anions from the alkanolamine solution;
• (c) stirring the contents of the contacting zone and measuring and recording the conductance of the alkanolamine solution during and after addition of the ion exchange resin;
• (d) monitoring the conductance of the alkanolamine solution until steady state is reached;
• and
• (e) determining the total anion content and the sodium cation content of the alkanolamine solution from the recorded conductance trace.

A process for directly monitoring the anion concentration in an alkanolamine solution which comprises:

• (a) introducing an alkanolamine solution containing anions to a contacting zone;
• (b) providing in the contacting zone a stirrer and a conductance probe connected through a meter to a recorder which provides a conductance trace with time;
• (c) stirring the alkanolamine solution;
• (d) introducing to the contacting zone a solid anion exchange resin in the OH.sup.- form in an amount in excess of that required to exchange all of the anions from the alkanolamine solution;
• (e) monitoring the conductance of the alkanolamine solution until steady state is reached;
• and
• (f) determining the total anion content of the alkanolamine solution from the recorder conductance trace.

A process for directly monitoring the anion and sodium cation concentration in an alkanolamine solution which comprises:

• (a) introducing an alkanolamine solution containing anions and sodium ions to a contacting zone;
• (b) providing in the contacting zone a stirrer and a conductance probe connected through a meter to a recorder which provides a conductance trace with time;
• (c) stirring the alkanolamine solution;
• (d) introducing to the contacting zone a solid anion exchange resin in the OH.sup.- form in an amount in excess of that required to exchange all of the anions from the alkanolamine solution;
• (e) monitoring the conductance of the alkanolamine solution until steady state is reached;
• and
• (f) determining the total anion content and the sodium cation content from the recorded conductance trace.

A process for characterizing the composition of an alkanolamine solution containing anions which comprises:

• (a) introducing an alkanolamine solution containing anions to a contacting zone;
• (b) providing in the contacting zone a stirrer and a conductance probe connected through a meter to a recorder which provides a conductance trace with time;
• (c) stirring the alkanolamine solution;
• (d) introducing to the contacting zone a solid anion exchange resin in the OH.sup.- form in an amount in excess of that required to exchange all of the anions from the alkanolamine solution;
• (e) monitoring the conductance of the alkanolamine solution on the recorder conductance trace and determining qualitatively the composition and concentration of anions in the alkanolamine solution during the exchange of the anions from the alkanolamine solution to the exchange resin.

A process for directly monitoring the anion and sodium cation concentration in an alkanolamine solution which comprises:

• (a) introducing an alkanolamine solution containing anions and sodium ions to a contacting zone;
• (b) providing in the contacting zone a stirrer and a conductance probe connected through a meter to a recorder which provides a conductance trace with time;
• (c) stirring the alkanolamine solution;
• (d) introducing to the contacting zone a solid anion exchange resin in the OH.sup.- form in an amount in excess of that required to exchange all of the anions from the alkanolamine solution;
• and
• (e) monitoring the conductance of the alkanolamine solution on the recorder conductance trace and determining qualitatively the composition and concentration of anions and sodium cations in the alkanolamine solution during the exchange of the anions from the alkanolamine solution to the exchange resin.