Removal of condensable aliphatic hydrocarbons and acidic gases from natural gas

US4414004A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Eckhart Wagner · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Ulrich Wagner · Bernburg, DE
• Klaus Volkamer · Bischofswerda, DE
• Wolfgang Vodrazka · Freinsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 10, 1982
• Grant date: Nov 8, 1983
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10G2300/1025
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for removing condensable aliphatic hydrocarbons and acidic gases such as H.sub.2 S, CO.sub.2 and COS from natural gas containing these, wherein the natural gas is initially treated with polyethylene glycol dialkyl ethers, as the solvent, in a first absorption stage to effect absorption of the condensable aliphatic hydrocarbons; the natural gas drawn off from the first absorption stage is then treated with polyethylene glycol dialkyl ethers, as the solvent, under superatmospheric pressure in a second absorption stage, the acidic gases being completely or partly absorbed; the solvent charged with the condensable aliphatic hydrocarbons which is obtained from the first absorption stage is treated with water in an extraction stage, to form a hydrocarbon phase containing the condensable aliphatic hydrocarbons and an aqueous dialkyl ether phase, and the hydrocarbon phase is separated from the aqueous dialkyl ether phase. The solvent charged with acid gases which is obtained from the second absorption stage is regenerated by expansion and/or stripping in a regeneration stage and the regenerated solvent is recycled to the absorption.