Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for removing aromatic hydrocarbons from a gas stream prior to an amine-based gas sweetening process

US6183540A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
38References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 1999
Grant dateFeb 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC10L3/10
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method is provided for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, collectively known as "BTEX," in a continuous process utilizing a glycol contactor to cause absorption of the BTEX upstream of an amine-based gas sweetening process. The preferred glycol for BTEX absorption is triethylene glycol. The glycol used in the glycol contactor for BTEX extraction may either be fully regenerated (dry), or wet glycol from a downstream gas dehydration system. The method may be achieved with the use of a number of separate absorber/contactor vessels, or the method may be achieved within one combination vessel.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.