Selexol

The Rectisol process is more readily appHcable for acid gas removal from synthesis gas made by partial oxidation of heavy feedstocks. The solvents used in Purisol, Fluor Solvent, and Selexol processes have low vapor pressures and hence solution losses are minimal. Absorption systems are generally corrosion-free. 

The solvent can be tailored to provide selective acid gas removal based on the Hquid—gas solubiHties. For example, the Selexol process, Hcensed by Union Carbide Corporation, uses the dimethyl ether of polyethylene glycol (DMPEG) to provide high hydrogen sulfide selectivity. The solubiHty of hydrogen sulfide in DMPEG is 8—10 times that of carbon dioxide. 

Physical solvent type Fluor solvents (propylene carbonate example), Selexol Physical/chemical type Sulfinol Carbonate type Potassium carbonate Solution batch type Lo-Cat, Chemsweet Bed batch type Iron Sponge, Mol Sieve... 

Selexol. licensed by the Norton Company, uses the dimethyl ether of polyethylene glycol. A Selexol plant can be designed to provide some selectivity for H2S. For example, the plant can be designed to provide pipeline quality gas (0.25 grains H S/IOOscf) while slipping 85% of the COi. ... 

The reaction produces additional hydrogen for ammonia synthesis. The shift reactor effluent is cooled and tlie condensed water is separated. The gas is purified by removing carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas by absorption with hot carbonate, Selexol, or methyl ethyl amine (MEA). After purification, the remaining traces of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are removed in the methanation reactions. 

Important processes commercially used are the Selexol, the Sulfinol, and the Rectisol processes. In these processes, no chemical reaction occurs between the acid gas and the solvent. The solvent, or absorbent, is a liquid that selectively absorbs the acid gases and leaves out the hydrocarbons. In the Selexol process for example, the solvent is dimethyl ether of polyethylene glycol. Raw natural gas passes countercurrently to the descending solvent. When the solvent becomes saturated with the acid gases, the pressure is reduced, and hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are desorbed. The solvent is then recycled to the absorption tower. Figure 1-1 shows the Selexol process. ... 

Figure 1-1. The Selexol process for acid gas removal (1) absorber, (2) flash drum, (3) compressor, (4) low-pressure drum, (5) stripper, (6) cooler.

Breckenridge, W. et al., Use of SELEXOL Process in Coke Gasification to Ammonia Project, Proceedings ofLaurance Reid Gas Conditioning Conference, http //www.uop.com/objects/92Selex CokeGasifAmm.pdf, March 2000. 

Sepasolv MPE [Methyl isopropyl ester] A variation on the Selexol process, using the methyl isopropyl ethers of polyethylene glycol as the solvent. Developed by BASF. Four commercial plants were operating in 1985, removing hydrogen sulfide from natural gas. Wolfer, W., Hydrocarbon Process., 1982,61(11), 193. 

Solexol A process for refining fats and oils by solvent extraction into propane. Developed by MW Kellogg Company. Not to be confused with Selexol. 

SOLINOX SO,. Linde NO,] A process for removing both NOx and SOx from fluegases. The SOx is removed by scrubbing with tetra-ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, circulated in a packed tower (the Selexol process). The NOx is destroyed by Selective Catalytic Reduction ( SCR). The sorbent is regenerated with steam the SOx is recovered for conversion to sulfuric acid. Developed by Linde in 1985 and used in a lead smelter in Austria and several power stations in Germany. In 1990 it was announced that it would be used at the titanium pigment plant in The Netherlands operated by Sachtleben. 

Sweny, J.W., "The Selexol Solvent Process in Fuel Gas Treating," paper presented at 81st National AIChE Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, April 11-14, 1976. 

The SELEXOL unit removes H2S and most of the CO2 in the syngas stream. The final hydrogen purification is accomplished in a downstream PSA unit. The purified hydrogen stream is combined with nitrogen from the air separation unit (ASU) and converted to ammonia. A unique CO2 purification scheme was developed to remove traces of H2S and COS from the CO2 that is fed to the UAN plant185. 

Coke Grinding. Slurry. Gasification. Shift. Gas Cooling, Steam Generation, Selexol. PSA... 

Selexol Process Dimethyl Ethers of Polyethylene Glycol... 

In the physical absorption process, the CO2 is absorbed in a solvent according to Henry s Law and then regenerated using heat, pressure reduction or both heat and pressure reduction. Typical solvents are Selexol (dimethylether of polyethylene glycol) and Rectisol (cold methanol) which are applied at high pressure. At lower pressures, the chemical absorption processes are more economical. The Selexol physical solvent process is frequently specified for coal gasification applications199. 

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