Amines Processing
Off-Site Reclamation Services Tailored to Your Company
CHEM Group provides off-site custom vacuum distillation services, high quality products and turnkey purification and reclamation projects that are all-inclusive and transparent. All-inclusive means we handle it all – from project analysis to logistics to distillation to reinstallation – your plant process is never interrupted. This transparency maintains and improves your company’s productivity, providing a key performance element that will serve to maintain your company’s competitive advantage.
Our convenient off-site services offer reclamation via vacuum distillation of both generic amines such as MDEA, DEA, DGA®, etc. as well as specialty amines for refineries, gas processing, petrochemical and chemical plants.
We are able to provide an economical & worry-free off-site reclamation service by offering:
Customized project to meet customer’s needs
We begin with a free project assessment based on a preliminary customer questionnaire. From this questionnaire, we develop a comprehensive proposal that represents a responsible and cost-effective solution tailored to drive down operating costs, minimize downtime, and eliminate disposal costs.
Removal of Heat Stable Amine Salts and other common contaminants
Heat stable amine salts are formed when certain trace acidic components entering the amine system react with the amine to form salts which are not thermally regenerable. Heat stable salts with the amine as a cation and inorganic anions such as acetate, formate, thiocyanate, thiosulfate and chloride are said to bind the amine. The amine “bound” to the anions is no longer “free” to pick-up CO® and H®S. If not removed from the system, these heat stable amine salts will continue to build and reduce the efficiency and capacity of the process. High heat stable salts levels can also contribute to corrosion, foaming, operational issues and increased amine losses. Vacuum distillation will remove
- Heat Stable Amine Salts (HSS)
- Amine Degradation Products
- Common neutralizers such as sodium and potassium
- Non-volatile Contaminants
- Solids (TSS) & Particulates
- Heavy Hydrocarbons
- Metals
Long term maintenance programs to maximize performance and minimize cost
CHEM Group has provided long term reclamation programs to several large US refineries since 2007. A reclamation maintenance program is designed to manage and optimize Heat Stable Amine Salts levels through periodic reclamation. This allows the customer to capitalize on the benefit of HSAS, i.e. improved stripping efficiency and energy savings, while maintaining HSAS and degradation contaminants below cautionary levels. Volumes reclaimed each month vary with system size and HSAS incursion (build-up) rate, amine type, and HSAS targets. Our Project Specialist has over 20 years amine experience and will design a maintenance program specific to each customer’s needs and budget.
The following papers were presented at the 2010 and 2011 Brimstone Vail Sulfur Recovery Symposium and discuss benefits associated with HSAS management. They provide further insight into effect of HSS on stripping efficiency as well as managing your amine hygiene through reclamation.
“Effect of Heat Stable Salts on Steam Stripping Rates” (2011 Brimstone)
“Use of Reclamation for Amine Hygiene Management” (2010 Brimstone)
Versatility to process a wide range of amines and glycols
Typical AMINES Processed
- Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)
- Diethanolamine (DEA)
- DIGLYCOLAMINE® (DGA®)
- Monoethanolamine (MEA)
- Di-isopropanolamine (DIPA)
- Sulfinol®
- Sulfolane
- UCARSOL® Solvents
- GAS/SPEC® Solvents
- FLEXSORB® Solvents
- JEFFTREAT® Specialty Solvents
- TEG
- DEG
- TTEG
Simplicity through recycle and return projects
- No expensive and time consuming equipment to set up
- No expensive utilities and chemicals to supply
- No waste streams to manage and dispose by the customer
- No operational interruptions
- No suprises with up-front per pound pricing
- Reduced solvent disposal, emission and environmental costs
- Process flow chart
Upfront pricing with no hidden or unexpected costs
Once an off-site project has been designed and the volume of amine to be reclaimed has been determined, CHEM Group provides the customer with a detailed proposal which includes processing fee (per pound of incoming amine solution), transportation cost, and (if applicable) hazardous disposal cost. All non-hazardous residue disposal cost is included in the processing fee. Final project cost is typically within 5% of the initial proposal.
No Waste Streams for the customer to manage and dispose
When you use our off-site processing facilities in Hot Springs, Arkansas, you won’t have to deal with disposal of any waste streams generated from the process. The residuals from our process are managed with strict compliance to all laws and our corporate compliance guidelines. The CHEM Group wholly owned subsidary that processes amines is a member of SOCMA’s CHEMStewards® environmental compliance program.
At the start of each project, a waste characterization of the distilled bottoms is performed. If the distillation bottoms meet the criteria for non-hazardous, they are sent to an approved landfill. If distilled bottoms exceed TCLP limits, the material is sent to a TSD Part B Hazardous Waste Facility and additional disposal charges will result. Whether the resulting residue is classified as hazardous or non-hazardous, the residue is sent out for disposal with CHEM Group listed as the generator.
Superior Short-Path Distillation Wiped Film Technology
Distillation occurs under fine vacuum (3mbar/torr to 12 mbar/torr) permitting the distillation of high boiling materials at lower temperatures. The short residence time and low operating temperatures result in no thermal degradation of heat sensitive materials. Read more about short-path distillation technology.
More Information
When you’re ready to proceed, we coordinate the transportation of spent materials to one of our centrally located processing facilities, we vacuum distill your amines, and return to you a finished product that has been thoroughly renewed to perform like new.