Sorbents for the recovery and stripping of acid gases

• US 8,597,411 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Archon Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Archon Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Shahin, Ahmed M., Ayasse, Conrad
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US13/399,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20130213229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 95/90, 951/07, 951/08, 951/29, 951/36, 951/37, 951/39, 959/00, 961/08, 961/54, 423/220, 423228-230, 208/208.R, 502/400, 502/402
• US Class Current: 95/139
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/202 Polymeric adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/25 Coated, impregnated or composite adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/304 Hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/267 Cross-linked polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28057 Surface area, e.g. B.E.T specific surface area
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28083 being in the range 2-50 nm, i.e. mesopores
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3204 Inorganic carriers, supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3282 Crosslinked polymers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

An acid-gas sorbent comprising an amine-composite. The present composite may comprise a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt %; a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt %; and a third component comprising a cross-linking agent, and/or a coupling agent at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt %.

Claims

1. An acid-gas sorbent comprising an amine composite, said composite comprising:

(i) a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt % of the final composite;

(ii) a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the final composite; and

(iii) a third component which serves as a coupling, cross-linking or catalyzing agent to induce a reaction between the first and second components, at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt % of the final composite.

2. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second component become chemically bonded.

3. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, or impregnated within, a porous support.

4. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in claim 2, further comprising, or impregnated within, a porous support.

5. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the porous support is a solid porous support, and said support is of a material selected from the group of solid porous support materials consisting of silica, alumina, silica-alumina, zeolite, carbon, precipitated oxides, ceria, titania, and a combination thereof.

6. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the porous support has a pore diameter, and said pore diameter is from about 1 nm to about 50 nm.

7. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the surface area of the porous support is from about 10 to about 2000 m²/g.

8. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the amine is a primary, secondary, or tertiary alkylamine, aromatic amine, polyamine, or a combination thereof.

9. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the amine is a linear, branched, or hyperbranched polyethyleneimine of a molecular weight 600 AMU or greater.

10. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the amine is an amine selected from the group consisting of amines consisting of monoethanol amine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), methyldiethanol amine, triethanolamine, tetraethylenepentaamine, cyclic amines, pre-hyperbranched amine polymer, polyethyleneimine, amine-grafted polyvinyl alcohol, amine-containing polyethylene glycol or polyaminoethyl methacrylate, and a combination thereof.

11. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hydrophilic polymer or pre-polymer component is selected from carbohydrates, ethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, and combinations thereof.

12. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the third component is a carboxylic acid selected from those containing one to four carbon atoms.

13. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the third component is a cross-linking agent selected from the group of cross-linking agents consisting of aldehydes, glutarldehyde, glyoxal, and combinations thereof.

14. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the third component is a coupling agent selected from the group of coupling agents consisting of 1,1′

-carbonyldiimidazole, N,N′

-dicyclohexylcabodiimide, and a combination thereof.

15. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first component and the second component are cross-linked by a dehydration chemical reaction.

16. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first component and the second component are cross-linked via a chemical reaction with the cross linking agent.

17. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sorbent further comprises a polyol.

18. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sorbent further comprises a polyol that is reactive with the amine composite.

19. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sorbent further comprises a polyol selected from the group of polyols consisting of ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof.

20. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the amine composite is formed in solution.

21. The acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, further having a porous support, wherein the amine composite is formed in solution and thereafter dispersed within the porous support.

22. Use of an acid-gas sorbent as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, further having a porous support, wherein the composite is formed with the pores of the porous support.

23. Use of an acid-gas sorbent as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, for the absorption and/or adsorption of an acid gas.

24. Use of an acid-gas sorbent as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, for the absorption and/or adsorption of an acid gas, wherein said acid gas is CO₂ or H₂S.

25. A method of removing an acid gas from a fluid stream containing the acid gas, the method comprising:

a) providing an incoming fluid stream comprising the acid gas; and

b) bringing the fluid stream into contact with a sorbent according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, under conditions suitable for absorption and/or adsorption of the acid gas by the sorbent;

wherein the fluid stream comprises a lower amount of the acid gas after contacting the sorbent.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the acid gas absorption/adsorption step is conducted at a temperature of up to about 100°

C.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the acid gas absorption/adsorption step is conducted at a pressure between vacuum pressures up to about 1500 psig.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises a subsequent desorption step where acid gas is desorbed from the sorbent.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises a desorption step, the desorption step being conducted at a temperature of about 100°

C. or higher.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises a desorption step, the desorption step being conducted at a temperature of about 100°

C. to about 150°

C.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises a desorption step, the desorption step being conducted at a pressure between vacuum pressures up to about 1500 psig.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the acid gas absorption step is conducted at a pressure higher than the acid gas desorption step.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the acid gas absorption step is conducted at a pressure substantially equal to the pressure of the acid gas desorption step.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the acid gas absorption step is conducted at a pressure lower than the acid gas desorption step.

35. A method of preparing an acid-gas sorbent, comprising the steps of combining:

(i) a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt % of the final composite;

(ii) a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the final composite; and

(iii) a third component which serves as a coupling, cross-linking or catalyzing agent to induce a reaction between the first and second components, at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt % of the final composite.

36. A method of removing an acid gas from a fluid stream containing the acid gas, the method comprising:

a) providing an incoming fluid stream comprising the acid gas;

b) exposing an adduct formed from the combination of;

i) a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt % of the final composite;

(ii) a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the final composite; and

(iii) a third component which serves as a coupling, crosslinking or catalyzing agent to induce a reaction between the first and second components, at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt % of the final composite;

to said incoming fluid stream, under conditions suitable for absorption and/or adsorption of the acid gas by the adduct;

wherein the fluid stream comprises a lower amount of the acid gas after contacting the adduct.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein said second component is a polyol, and said third component is a cross-linking agent.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said adduct is dispersed in said fluid stream.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein water is first added to said adduct prior to dispersing said adduct and said water in the incoming fluid stream.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said adduct is provided on, or formed within, a solid porous support, and said fluid stream is passed through said solid porous support.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein said second component is a polyol dissolved in a solvent which solvent does not react with said amine composite, and said adduct is provided in solution into pores within a solid porous support, and allowing said solvent to evaporate leaving said adduct in a thin film in said pores of said solid porous support, and thereafter passing the fluid stream through the solid support under conditions suitable for absorption and/or adsorption of the acid gas by the adduct.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the fluid stream is a hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream recovered from an underground formation containing the acid gas carbon dioxide, and wherein it is desired to recover such carbon dioxide from such fluid stream and re-inject said carbon dioxide into said underground formation, further comprising the subsequent step, after step b) of:

c) exposing said adduct to a pressurized and heated stream of carbon dioxide, to force carbon dioxide within said adduct to be released into said pressurized and heated stream.