Chemical characterization of MEA degradation in PCC pilot plants operating in Australia
- Authors: Cruickshank, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Meuleman, Erik , Chaffee, Alan , Cottrell, Aaron , Feron, Paul
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Energy Procedia Vol. 37, no. (2013), p. 877-882
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- Description: An important step towards commercial scale post-combustion CO2 capture from coal-fired power stations is understanding solvent degradation. Laboratory scale trials have identified three main solvent degradation pathways for 30% MEA: oxidative degradation, carbamate polymerization and formation of heat stable salts. This paper probes the semi-volatile organic compounds produced from a single batch of 30% MEA which was used to capture CO2 from a black coal-fired power station (Tarong, Queensland, Australia) for approximately 700 hours, followed by 500 hours at the brown coal-fired power station (Loy Yang, Victoria, Australia). Comparisons are made between the compounds identified in this aged solvent system with MEA degradation reactions described in literature. Most of semi-volatile compounds tentatively identified by GC/MS have previously been reported in laboratory scale degradation trials. Our preliminary results show low levels of degradation products were present in samples after its use in the pilot plant at Tarong (black coal) and consequent 13 months storage, but much higher concentrations were later found in the same solvent during its at use in the pilot plant at Loy Yang Power (brown coal). Further work includes identifying the cause of poor GC/MS repeatability and investigating the relative rates of reactions described in literature. The impact of inorganic anions and dissolved metals on MEA degradation will also be explored.
Comparison of sample preparation methods for the GC–MS analysis of monoethanolamine (MEA) degradation products generated during post-combustion capture of CO2
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 52, no. (2016), p. 201-214
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- Description: As the development of chemical absorption technology for post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO2 from coal-fired power station flue gases proceeds towards commercial deployment, the focus on establishing a thorough understanding of the degradation of the aqueous amine absorbents is increasing. However, there is a need to develop and demonstrate robust analytical methods that are capable of measuring the concentrations of amine degradation products in aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) matrix during pilot-scale PCC. In this study, sample cleanup and derivatisation methods that enable reliable and robust analysis of MEA degradation products by GC–MS are described. Two sample cleanup methods were evaluated: dehydration (by rotary evaporation and molecular sieves) and cation exchange. The cation exchange sample preparation method was preferred for the analysis of organic degradation products in these samples because it achieved higher recovery and repeatability of GC–MS measurements than those obtained with the dehydration method. Furthermore, the cation exchange method resulted in less continued amine degradation during subsequent analysis steps because of its ability to separate acidic analytes from basic analytes, as well as to remove some inorganic interferences. Further improvement of the sensitivity, repeatability and accuracy of this GC–MS analytical method can be accomplished by: (a) increasing the scale of the cation exchange and/or derivatisation procedures; (b) optimizing the derivatisation reaction conditions; and (c) using a narrower bore (e.g. 0.25 mm ID) GC–MS column. The proposed cation exchange and derivatisation procedures can be readily adopted for the quantification of organic degradation products in other aqueous amine absorbents to provide important insights into the degradation of amine absorbents during PCC of CO2. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
Evaluation of methods for monitoring MEA degradation during pilot scale post-combustion capture of CO
- Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 39, no. (2015), p. 407-419
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- Description: Amine degradation is an important and current focus in the development of chemical absorption technology based on the use of aqueous amines for post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO