Solvent shows greater efficiency in sweetening of gas
1980; PennWell; Volume: 78; Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1944-9151
AutoresW.G. Wolfer, Eduardo S. Schwartz, W. Vodrazka, K. Volkamer,
Tópico(s)Industrial Gas Emission Control
ResumoBASF A.G. has developed a new physical solvent, Sepasolv MPE, for removing hydrogen sulfide from natural, coal, or synthesis gas. A special mixture of oligoethylene glycol methyl isopropyl ethers, with a mean molecular weight of 316, Sepasolv performs better than chemical solvents when the H/sub 2/S pressure exceeds one bar, since the amount of H/sub 2/S dissolved by Sepasolv increases linearly with pressure. Other desirable characteristics of Sepasolv include its selectivity, manifested by solubility ratios of 8.6:1 and 224:1 for H/sub 2/S/CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/S/CH/sub 4/, respectively, at 0/sup 0/C; high stability, even during regeneration with air; a relatively low vapor pressure, so that an afterwash is not required for recovery of the Sepasolv; a low pour point (-25/sup 0/C); viscosities of 15.0 and 7.2 Pa-sec at 0/sup 0/ and 20/sup 0/C, respectively; and noncorrosivity. The first large-scale industrial use of Sepasolv is in Wintershall A.G.'s Dueste plant at Barnstorf, West Ger., which sweetens sour natural gas to 150 mg/cu m total sulfur content and 5 mg/cu m H/sub 2/S content. The use of Sepasolv permits regeneration at 140/sup 0/C and 1.4 bar, for which steam requirements are 3600 kg/hr, much lower than with chemical solvents.
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