Conoco Inc.

Fred C Veatch

Alfred E Keller

Arthur L Cummings

James C Thompsen

Regina A Severson

D D Orrell

A cation exchange resin is regenerated to remove alkanolamine and alkali metal cations from the resin by eluting the resin with alkali metal hydroxide to selectively displace alkanolamine from the resin, followed by elution of the resin with a mineral acid to displace alkali metal cations and any remaining alkanolamine from the resin. During this process, the resin is monitored by measuring and recording the conductance of the effluent from the resin and such recorded conductance is used to control the regenerant streams to provide more efficient regeneration of the resin.

Monitoring and control system for selective regeneration of alkanolamine

Aqueous alkanolamine solution containing iron sulfide particles is passed through a bed of contact materials having openings greater than the size of the iron sulfide particles and the iron sulfide particles adhere to the contact material. The contact material is regenerated to sequentially remove alkanolamine and iron sulfide particles by contacting it with water.

Removal of iron sulfide particles from alkanolamine solutions

Monitoring and controlling the reactivation of an alkanolamine solution containing heat-stable salts of such alkanolamine with stronger acid anions and weaker acid anions by contacting the alkanolamine solution (a) with a strong base anion exchange resin which has a high affinity for stronger acid anions (b) contacting the effluent alkanolamine solution from the strong base anion exchange resin with a second strong base anion exchange resin which has an affinity for weaker acid anions (c) measuring and recording the electrical conductance of the effluent solution from the first mentioned anion exchange resin (d) removing the first mentioned anion exchange resin from service when the conductance of the effluent alkanolamine solution from said resin indicates breakthrough of stronger acid anions in said effluent, (e) measuring and recording the electrical conductance of the effluent alkanolamine solution from the second mentioned anion exchange resin (f) removing the second mentioned anion exchange resin from service when the conductance of the effluent alkanolamine solution from said resin indicates break through of weaker acid anions in said effluent and (g) regenerating the strong base anion exchange resins.

Process for monitoring and controlling an alkanolamine reaction process

Spent aqueous alkanolamine solution containing free alkanolamine, alkali metal salts of anions which form heat stable salts with such alkanolamine and heat stable alkanolamine salts is reactivated by contacting the solution with an acidic cation ion exchange resin to remove alkali metal cations and alkanolamine cations resulting from (1) protonation of free alkanolamine with hydrogen on the resin and (2) the alkanolamine salts, followed by eluting the resin with aqueous ammonia to preferentially displace alkanolamine from the resin and thereafter eluting the resin with a dilute mineral acid to displace the ammonia, metal cations and any remaining alkanolamine. The displaced alkanolamine is recovered for reuse. The aqueous ammonia may also be recovered for reuse.

Regeneration of acidic cationic exchange resin used in the reactivation

A method for eliminating foam in hydrocarbon distillation systems where the foaming is caused by an ionic surface-active substance is involved. Foam is eliminated by the addition of an effective amount of a surfactant electrolytically opposite to the surface-active material already in the system. The surfactant added and the surface-active substance already in the system complex to form a non-foaming combination, allowing distillation to proceed without foaming.

Growing community of inventors

Newkirk, OK, United States of America

Fred C Veatch