7. NATURAL GAS PROCESSING
Degradation processes occur by slow oxidation of the amine solutions in contact with
air or oxygen, and the oxidation products often generate corrosion. Oxidation can be re
duced by placing the amine solutions under an inert gas blanket in the storage tanks.
7.6.2.2 Potassium carbonate serubbing,
‘The potassium carbonate scrubbing process (Fig. 726) is similar to an amine process
bout the potassium carbonate Solutions used are usually more concentrated (20 t0 40%) than
the amine solutions. This process was originally intended to remove carbon dioxide. but
hydrogen sulfide is also absorbed (Amold and Stewart. 1989, Maddox. 1982),
Acid
gas.
Processed
Reboiler
Lean solvent Rich solvent
Fig. 7.26 Potassium carbonate process
The following chemical reactions are involved:
K CO; +CO) +30 2 2
HCO3 was)
K3CO; + HaS & KHS+KHCO3 719
‘The use of solutions of alkaline salts. such as NayCO3, KxCOs and KPO, is tradi
tional. but the early processes. which included an absorption step at a temperature close (0
ritive with the amine processes (Kohl and Riesenfeld, 1985,
ambient, are not comy