# US 5,683,491 A · Method for determining saturation of carbon filters in a gas treatment process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,683,491 A - Document ID: US5683491A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/633,270 - Filed: 1996-04-16 - Granted: 1997-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 1996-04-16 - Assignees: Mobil Oil Corporation - Inventors: James Owen Gelsinger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5683491A ## CPC - B01D 53/1412: {Controlling the absorption process} - G01N 2030/025: {Gas chromatography} - G01N 2030/8854: {involving hydrocarbons} - G01N 2030/8886: {Analysis of industrial production processes} - 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) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A method for determining the efficiency of a carbon filter to absorb hydrocarbons from an organic amine solvent. After the solvent has passed through the filter, a sample is taken and passed through a standard gas chromatograph (GC) to measure the area counts for the hydrocarbons and the solvent. The sample does not have to have an internal standard added thereto nor does it have to be measured before it is run through the GC. The area counts are converted into actual amounts by using Reduction Factors taken from a specially-prepared calibration table. These amounts are normalized and added to give the total amount of hydrocarbons present in the solvent after it has passed through the carbon filter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating a sour hydrocarbon gas stream, said method comprising: contacting said sour hydrocarbon gas stream with a solvent to remove acid gases from said sour gas stream; regenerating said solvent by removing said acid gases from said solvent to form a regenerated solvent; passing at least a portion of said regenerated solvent through a carbon filter to remove hydrocarbons from said solvent and form a regenerated, filtered solvent, said hydrocarbons having been absorbed from said sour gas stream along with said acid gases; recycling said regenerated, filtered solvent for use in further removing acid gases from said sour gas stream; determining the absorption efficiency of said carbon filter for removing said hydrocarbons from said regenerated solvent on a routine basis by periodically taking a sample of said regenerated solvent after it has passed through said carbon filter; and changing said carbon filter after the amount of hydrocarbons remaining in said regenerated, filtered solvent after it has passed through said carbon filter approaches an unacceptable level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said acid gases are hydrogen sulfide and/or carbon dioxide and the solvent comprises an organic amine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said solvent is comprised of the organic amine and sulfolane (cyclo-tetramethylene sulfone). ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said absorption efficiency of said carbon filter is determined by: taking a sample of said regenerated solvent after it has passed through said carbon filter; passing said sample through a gas chromatograph to measure the relative area counts of both the known hydrocarbons and the solvent in said filtered, regenerated solvent; and converting said relative area counts measured by said gas chromatograph into respective amounts of said hydrocarbons and solvent by using predetermined, respective references values for said hydrocarbons and said solvent thereby determining the total amount of hydrocarbons in said regenerated solvent after said solvent has passed through said carbon filter and hence determining the efficiency of said filter to absorb hydrocarbons at the time said sample was taken. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said reference values are the Reduction Factors for said respective hydrocarbons and said solvent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 where said Reduction Factors (RF) for said respective hydrocarbons are calculated in accordance with the following relationship: RF=›(12.times.C)+H!/›12.times.C.times.1.33467! wherein C=number of carbon atoms H=number of hydrogen atoms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said unacceptable level of hydrocarbons in said regenerated, filtered solvent is equal to about 1.5% by volume, of the filtered regenerated solvent. ### Claim 8 In a method for treating a hydrocarbon gas stream by (a) removing acid gases from said gas stream by contacting said stream with a solvent; (b) regenerating said solvent by removing said acid gases from said solvent to form regenerated solvent; (c) passing at least a portion of said regenerated solvent through a carbon filter to remove hydrocarbons from said solvent and form regenerated, filtered solvent; and (d) recycling said regenerated, filtered solvent for use in removing said acid gases from said hydrocarbon stream; the improvement comprising: a method for determining the efficiency of said carbon filter for absorbing said hydrocarbons from said regenerated solvent; said method comprising: taking a sample of said regenerated, filtered solvent after it has passed through said carbon filter; passing said sample through a gas chromatograph to measure the relative area counts of both said hydrocarbons and said solvent in said regenerated, filtered, solvent; and converting said relative area counts measured by said gas chromatograph into respective amounts of said hydrocarbons and solvent by using predetermined, respective reference values for said hydrocarbons and said solvent thereby determining the total amount of hydrocarbons in said regenerated, filtered solvent after said solvent has passed through said carbon filter and hence determining the efficiency of said filter to absorb said hydrocarbons at the time said sample was taken. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein said acid gases are hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide and the solvent comprises an organic amine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said solvent comprises the organic amine and sulfolane (cyclo-tetramethylene sulfone). ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein said reference values are the Reduction Factors for said hydrocarbons and said solvent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 where said Reduction Factors (RF) for said respective hydrocarbons are calculated in accordance with the following relationship: RF=›(12.times.C)+H!/›12.times.C.times.1.33467! wherein C=number of carbon atoms H=number of hydrogen atoms. ### Claim 13 A method for determining the absorption efficiency of a carbon filter in removing hydrocarbons from a solvent; said method comprising: taking a sample of said solvent after it has passed through said carbon filter to form a filtered solvent; passing said sample through a gas chromatograph to measure the relative area counts of both the hydrocarbons and the solvent in said filtered solvent; and converting said relative area counts measured by said gas chromatograph into respective amounts of said hydrocarbons and solvent by using predetermined, respective reference values for said hydrocarbons and said solvent thereby determining the total amount of hydrocarbons in said regenerated solvent after said solvent has passed through said carbon filter and hence determining the efficiency of said filter to absorb said hydrocarbons at the time said sample was taken. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said solvent comprises an organic amine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said reference values are the Reduction Factors for said respective hydrocarbons and said solvent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 where said Reduction Factors (RF) for said respective hydrocarbons are calculated in accordance with the following relationship: RF=›(12.times.C)+H!/›12.times.C.times.1.33467! wherein C=number of carbon atoms H=number of hydrogen atoms.