# US 9,433,875 B2 · Divalent cation removal from rich monoethylene glycol (MEG) feed streams by ion exchange

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- Number: US 9,433,875 B2
- Document ID: US9433875B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/593,734
- Filed: 2012-08-24
- Published: 2014-02-27
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-08-24
- Assignees: Cameron International Corporation
- Applicants: Daniel W. Phelps; Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
- Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps; Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433875B2

## CPC

- B01D 15/362: {Cation-exchange}
- C07C 29/80: by distillation
- B01D 3/06: Flash distillation
- B01D 3/143: {by two or more of a fractionation, separation or rectification step}
- B01D 15/00: Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents; Apparatus therefor
- B01D 15/36: involving ionic interaction, e.g. ion-exchange, ion-pair, ion-suppression or ion-exclusion
- C07C 29/76: by physical treatment
- C07C 29/74: Separation; Purification; Use of additives, e.g. for stabilisation
- C07C 31/202: {Ethylene glycol}
- 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)
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

## Abstract

A system and process for removing divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. An ion exchange bed containing a cation exchange resin adsorbs the divalent cations in the rich MEG feed stream as it flows through the ion exchange bed. After the divalent ions have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the feed stream flows through a distillation column to regenerate MEG. The spent cation exchange resin may be regenerated in place using a regeneration brine comprised of sodium chloride and water. After use, the regeneration brine may be disposed as waste or recycled to the brine storage tank and re-used to regenerate the cation exchange resin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for removing divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream, the process comprising the steps of:
passing the rich MEG feed stream through an ion exchange bed containing a cation exchange resin where the divalent cations are adsorbed by the cation exchange resin;
passing the rich MEG feed stream from the ion exchange bed through a flash separator which separates the feed stream into sodium chloride and water/MEG vapor; and
passing the water/MEG vapor from the flash separator through a distillation column which separates the water/MEG vapor into distilled water and lean MEG.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 further comprising the step of regenerating the cation exchange resin by passing a regeneration brine through the ion exchange bed in a direction opposite that of the rich MEG feed stream.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A process according to claim 2 wherein the regeneration brine is held in a brine storage tank before it flows through the ion exchange bed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the regeneration brine is comprised of sodium chloride produced as the rich MEG feed stream is treated in the flash separator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the regeneration brine is comprised of water produced as the rich MEG feed stream is treated in the distillation column.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A process according to claim 3 further comprising the step of routing the regeneration brine to the brine storage tank after it has flowed through the ion exchange bed and re-using it to regenerate the cation exchange resin.