Gas Treating

Gas treating involves reduction of the acid

gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen
sulfide (H2S), 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?

The Problem

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 H2S, it forms a weak, corrosive acid in the presence of

water.

ACID GAS CONCENTRATIONS IN NATURAL

GAS

CO2 2%
N2 4%

H2S 4 ppmv.

Purification Levels

H2S concentration must be reduced to 0.25

gr/100 scf (6 mg/m3)

CO2concentration 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 CO2 level is
about 50 ppmv

Acid Gas Disposal

For CO2, 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 H2S, four disposal options are

available:
1.

2.

3.

4.

Incineration and venting, if environmental

regulations
regarding
sulfur
dioxide
emissions can be satisfied
Reaction with H2S scavengers, such as
iron sponge
Conversion to elemental sulfur by use of
the Claus or similar process
Disposal by injection into a suitable
underground formation

PURIFICATION PROCESSES
Four scenarios are possible for acid gas
removal from natural gas:
1.
2.
3.
4.

CO2 removal from a gas that contains no H 2S

H2S removal from a gas that contains no CO 2
Simultaneous removal of both CO 2 and H2S
Selective removal of H2S from a gas that
contains both CO2 and H2S

Acid Gas Removal

Processes

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

Process Selection Chart For CO2

Removal With No H2S Present

Process Selection Chart For H2S

Removal With No CO2 Present

Process Selection Chart For

Simultaneous H2S And CO2 Removal

Process Selection Chart For Selective

H2S Removal With CO2 Present

SOLVENT ABSORPTION
PROCESSES

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 (NH3)

Amines remove H2S and CO2 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

Amine Treating using MEA

Operating Issues
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)

Hot Potassium Carbonate Process

Physical Absorption
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

ADSORPTION

Acid gases, as well as water, can be

effectively removed by physical adsorption
on synthetic zeolites

Applications are limited

displaces acid gases

Molecular sieve can reduce H2S levels to the

0.25 gr/100 scf (6 mg/ m3) specification.

because

water

Natural Gas Desulfurization Plant

Cryogenic Fractionation

Distillation is the most widely used process to

separate liquid mixtures, and it seems a good
prospect for removing CO2 and H2S from natural
gas

However, problems are associated with the

separation of CO2 from methane, CO2 from
ethane and CO2 from H2S

CO2 from methane: Relative volatilities (KC1/K CO2)

at typical distillation conditions are about 5 to 1.

CO2 from ethane: In addition to solidification

problems, CO2 and ethane form an azeotrope
(liquid and vapor compositions are equal) and
consequently, a complete separation of those two
by simple distillation is impossible
CO2 from H2S : This distillation is difficult because,
the mixture forms a pinch at high CO2
concentrations.

Membranes

Membranes are used in natural gas

processing for dehydration and bulk CO2
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

Carbon Dioxide Removal from

Natural Gas

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

Low Pressure, Bore-side Gas Feed

Module

Process

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

Operating Considerations

Flow pattern: Depends on the process

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

Operating Temperature:
increases permeability

Operating Pressure: Increased feed pressure decreases the

permeability

Feed Gas Pretreatment: Because membranes are susceptible to

degradation from impurities, pretreatment is usually required

Increased

operating

temperature

Advantages and Disadvantages

of Membrane Systems
Low

capital investment when compared

with solvent systems
Ease of installation
Good weight and space efficiency
Economy

of scale
Clean feed

Nonregenerable Hydrogen
Sulfide Scavengers

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 H2S removal

These
processes
generally
nonregenerable scavenger

Ex: Iron-sponge bed

use

Biological Processes

The gas stream that contains the H2S is first

absorbed into a mild alkaline solution

Absorbed sulfide is oxidized to elemental

sulfur by naturally occurring
microorganisms

Safety and Environmental

Considerations
H

S leaks

Solvent

Absorption: The solvent may be

hazardous or toxic

Iron

Bed: Respiratory and eye irritants