Method and device for separating acid gases from a gas mixture

A method for separating acid gases from a gas mixture, said method comprising:

• a) absorbing acid gases by contacting the gas mixture with an absorption medium comprising water and at least one amine to obtain a loaded absorption medium, wherein absorption takes place in an absorber and the absorption medium:
• i) shows phase separation into two liquid phases upon heating above a phase-separation temperature in the range of 0 to 130° C.;
• ii) comprises at least one amine of formula (I):
• wherein R1 is hydrogen and R2 is an alkyl radical having 1to 6 carbon atoms;
• b) desorbing acid gases from the loaded absorption medium by stripping the loaded absorption medium with steam in a desorption column, wherein desorption is carried out at a temperature at which a phase separation into a water-rich liquid phase and a water-poor liquid phase occurs in the desorption column;
• c) separating the water-rich liquid phase and water-poor liquid phase from one another;
• d) feeding the water-rich liquid phase to an evaporator in which steam is generated with which acid gases are stripped in the desorption column;
• and
• e) returning the water-poor liquid phase and water-rich liquid phase to the absorber as absorption medium.