Preparation of an amine based solvent contaminated by the introduction of sulfur oxides

• US 9,527,037 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Forbert, Rainald, Hauke, Stefan, Joh, Ralph, Olschewski, Frank, Schneider, Rdiger
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hossaini, Nader
• Application Number:
  US13/883,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20130214202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 951/87, 952/35, 952/36, 210/758, 210/759, 210/760, 210/774, 210/806, 423/242.7, 423/243.01, 423/243.11, 423/351, 423/364, 423/371, 423/406, 423/413, 252/189, 252/190, 252/364
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2009/0086 Processes or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/104 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/106 Peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/306 of potassium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/604 Hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/606 Carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/20484 with one hydroxyl group
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/20494 Amino acids, their salts or derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/96 Regeneration, reactivation or recycling of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 9/0013 by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 9/0054 Use of anti-solvent
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 17/56 Separation; Purification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2

Abstract

A method for processing an amine-based solvent contaminated by the introduction of sulfur oxides is provided. A potassium compound is introduced into a contaminated solvent, and the contaminated solvent is cooled so that a solubility of a potassium sulfate becomes less than a specified concentration of potassium sulfate. Further, an oxidizing agent is introduced into the contaminated solvent so that a potassium sulfite is oxidized to potassium sulfate. The potassium sulfate is filtered out, wherein a prepared solvent is formed. Further, a device for processing an amine-based, sulfur oxide-contaminated solvent is provided.

Claims

1. A method for processing an amine-based solvent contaminated by the introduction of sulfur oxides, comprising:

cooling the contaminated solvent so that potassium sulfate crystallizes out of the contaminated solvent;

introducing a potassium compound into a contaminated solvent, wherein the step of introducing the potassium compound in the contaminated solvent compensates for the loss of potassium from the contaminated solvent caused by potassium sulfate crystallization;

introducing an oxidizing agent into the contaminated solvent so that a potassium sulfite is oxidized to potassium sulfate, and

filtering out the potassium sulfate, wherein a prepared solvent is formed.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent and the potassium compound are mixed together before they are introduced into the contaminated solvent.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises hydrogen peroxide or ozone.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an amount of the potassium compound supplied is equimolar to an amount of crystallized potassium sulfate.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a temperature T of the contaminated solvent after cooling is between 5°

C. and 45°

C.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a heat exchange is provided between the prepared solvent and the contaminated solvent so that the contaminated solvent is cooled by the prepared solvent.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contaminated solvent is obtained from a carbon dioxide-separating process of a fossil-fuel-fired power station process.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the contaminated solvent is processed batch-wise from the carbon dioxide-separating process.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contaminated solvent is the amino based solvent, wherein the amino based solvent is a potassium-amino acid solution.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contaminated solvent comprises one or more amines.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the potassium compound comprises potassium hydroxide KOH, potassium hydrogen carbonate or potassium carbonate.