Gas Processors Association Europe

Arthur L. Cummings, Glen Smith, Neil Tooley, MPR Services Inc, Texas, USA

Acid gas (CO2, H2S, SO2) scrubbing systems are intended to operate trouble-free, but rarely do.  Contaminants (heat stable salts, solids, hydrocarbons, surfactants, amine degradation products) cause a variety of maintenance and operational difficulties resulting in reduced capacity, product quality, system longevity, etc. Various methods of removing the several contaminants from amine solutions have been developed and improved over the years. These are discussed in view of practical experience that has shown that contaminant removal methods improve operations and throughput.