Gas treating involves reduction of the acid

gases carbon dioxide (CO

2
) and hydrogen
sulfide (H
2
S), along with other sulfur species,
to sufficiently low levels.

Purpose: To meet contractual specifications or
permit additional processing in the plant
without corrosion and plugging problems
1. Why are the acid gases a problem?

2. What are the acid gas concentrations in
natural gas?

3. How much purification is needed?

4. What is done with the acid gases after
separation from the natural gas?

5. What processes are available for acid gas
removal?
Hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic, and in the presence
of water it forms a weak, corrosive acid.

The threshold limit value (TLV) for prolonged
exposure is 10 ppmv

At concentrations greater than 1,000 ppmv, death
occurs in minutes

Carbon dioxide is nonflammable and, consequently,
large quantities are undesirable in a fuel.

Like H
2
S, it forms a weak, corrosive acid in the
presence of water.


CO
2
2%

N2 4%

H
2
S 4 ppmv.
H
2
S concentration must be reduced to 0.25
gr/100 scf (6 mg/m
3
)

CO
2
concentration must be reduced to a
maximum of 3 to 4 mol%

If the gas is being fed to an LNG liquefaction
facility, then the maximum CO
2
level is about
50 ppmv
For CO
2
, if the quantities are large, it is
sometimes used as an injection fluid in EOR
(enhanced oil recovery) projects

If this option is unavailable, then the gas can
be vented, provided it satisfies environmental
regulations for impurities
In the case of H
2
S, four disposal options are
available:

1. Incineration and venting, if environmental
regulations regarding sulfur dioxide
emissions can be satisfied
2. Reaction with H
2
S scavengers, such as iron
sponge
3. Conversion to elemental sulfur by use of
the Claus or similar process
4. Disposal by injection into a suitable
underground formation
Four scenarios are possible for acid gas
removal from natural gas:

1. CO
2
removal from a gas that contains no
H
2
S
2. H
2
S removal from a gas that contains no
CO
2
3. Simultaneous removal of both CO
2
and H
2
S
4. Selective removal of H
2
S from a gas that
contains both CO
2
and H
2
S
Some of the more important items that must be
considered before a process is selected:

The type and concentration of impurities and
hydrocarbon composition of the sour gas

The temperature and pressure at which the sour gas is
available

The specifications of the outlet gas

The volume of gas to be processed

The capital and operating costs for the process

The environmental constraints, including air pollution
regulations and disposal of byproducts considered
hazardous chemicals

In solvent absorption, the two major cost factors are the
solvent circulation rate, which affects both equipment size
and operating costs, and the energy requirement for
regenerating the solvent

Amines:
Amines are compounds formed from ammonia (NH
3
)

Amines remove H
2
S and CO
2
in a two step process:

1. The gas dissolves in the liquid (physical absorption).

2. The dissolved gas, which is a weak acid, reacts with the
weakly basic amines.

Monoethanolamine (MEA) is the most basic of
the amines used in acid treating.
Diglycolamine
Diethanolamine(DEA)
Methyldiethanolamine
Sterically Hindered Amines
Mixed Amines

Corrosion

Solution Foaming: Foaming of the liquid
amine solution is a major problem because it
results in poor vaporliquid contact

Heat stable salts (higher concentrations
promote corrosion and foaming)
Advantages and disadvantages of physical
absorption processes

Absorption processes are generally most efficient when the partial
pressures of the acid gases are relatively high

Heavy hydrocarbons are strongly absorbed by the solvents used, and
consequently acid gas removal is most efficient in natural gases with low
concentrations of heavier hydrocarbons

Separation can be carried out at near-ambient temperature

Partial dehydration occurs along with acid gas removal, whereas amine
processes produce a water saturated product stream that must be dried
in most applications
Acid gases, as well as water, can be
effectively removed by physical adsorption on
synthetic zeolites

Applications are limited because water
displaces acid gases

Molecular sieve can reduce H
2
S levels to the
0.25 gr/100 scf (6 mg/ m
3
) specification.

Distillation is the most widely used process to
separate liquid mixtures, and it seems a good
prospect for removing CO
2
and H
2
S from natural
gas

However, problems are associated with the
separation of CO
2
from methane, CO
2
from
ethane and CO
2
from H
2
S

CO
2
from methane: Relative volatilities (KC
1
/K CO
2
)
at typical distillation conditions are about 5 to 1.




CO
2
from ethane: In addition to solidification
problems, CO
2
and ethane form an azeotrope
(liquid and vapor compositions are equal) and
consequently, a complete separation of those two
by simple distillation is impossible
CO
2
from H
2
S : This distillation is difficult because,
the mixture forms a pinch at high CO
2

concentrations.
Membranes are used in natural gas
processing for dehydration and bulk CO
2

removal

The driving force for movement through the
membrane is the difference in chemical
potential, , for a given component on the
two sides of the membrane
Membrane used : Cellulose acetate

A thin layer of cellulose acetate is on top of a
thicker layer of a porous support material

Permeable compounds dissolve into the
membrane, diffuse across it, and then travel
through the inactive support material

The membranes are thin to maximize mass
transfer and, thus, minimize surface area and
cost
It is a countercurrent flow configuration similar to a shell-
tube heat exchanger with the gas entering on the tube
side

More resistant to fouling because the inlet gas flows
through the inside of the hollow fibers

However, the mechanical strength of the membrane limits
the pressure drop across the membrane

To handle high pressures, the permeate flows into the
hollow fiber from the shell side

This feature makes the membrane much more susceptible
to plugging, and gas pretreatment is usually required
Flow pattern: Depends on the process

Flow Rate: A maximum acceptable feed gas rate per
unit area applies to the membrane

Operating Temperature: Increased operating
temperature increases permeability

Operating Pressure: Increased feed pressure
decreases both the permeability

Feed Gas Pretreatment: Because membranes are
susceptible to degradation from impurities,
pretreatment is usually required

Low capital investment when compared with
solvent systems
Ease of installation
Good weight and space efficiency

Economy of scale
Clean feed
When the quantity of sulfur to be recovered is
small, on the order of 400 lb/d(180 kg/d) or
less, small-scale batch processes are used for
H
2
S removal

These processes generally use a
nonregenerable scavenger

Ex: Iron-sponge bed



The gas stream that contains the H
2
S is first
absorbed into a mild alkaline solution

Absorbed sulfide is oxidized to elemental
sulfur by naturally occurring microorganisms
H
2
S leaks

Solvent Absorption: The solvent may be
hazardous or toxic

Iron Bed: Respiratory and eye irritants