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MPR’S MOBILE PROCESSES


About 20 years ago MPR’s mobile reclaiming MPR cleans gas treating systems on-line while the
services began to be available. MPR’s Mobile system is operating by treating a slip stream. MPR also
reclaiming resulted in such dramatically improved cleans off-line from storage tanks. Most of MPR’s
operations, that plant operators realized that services have been completed with the use of truck
reclaiming had to be a necessary part of their future. mounted mobile equipment.
The benefits of reclaiming gas treating solvents are
clear. Removing the contaminants generally results
in smoother operations.
Various processes for removing contaminants from
amine solutions, glycol and sulfolane have been
developed and improved by MPR over the years,
primarily because of the enthusiasm of the users of
MPRs reclaiming services.

As analytical capabilities improved, more and more


contaminants have been identified and have become of
interest. Several degradation products have received
particular interest because of their strong contribution to
corrosion and have become common targets in
reclaiming jobs. Some degradation products have been
converted back to useable solvent.
MPR Trailer in a refinery
Product specifications and environmental concerns
Mobile HSSX® Process.
have also changed. Lower sulfur specs in finished
Heat stable salts accumulate in the amine, resulting in a
products coupled with sourer feed stocks press ever-
loss of acid gas absorbing capacity, because the amine
increasingly on the capacity of gas treating systems.
can hold but one hydrogen ion. If additional amine is
Gas treating system downtime and upsets have a more
added to compensate for the capacity loss, water
visible connection to throughput and profits. Disposal of
content is sacrificed; viscosity increases, and absorption
contaminated solvents is hindered by fewer available
and stripping efficiencies can suffer. Additionally, HSS
options and higher costs. For many operators,
contribute to corrosion, which reduces material life and
reclaiming is becoming the only option.
produces solids (corrosion products such as iron
sulfide), which can result in fouling, plugging, erosion,
Reclaiming – removing the contaminants from gas
and foam stabilization.
treating solvents – generally results in smoother
operations, which, more and more visibly, translates to
Recommendations for acceptable levels of HSS anions
improved bottom line. The positive effects of reclaiming
in amine systems range from 500 to several thousand
include reduced solvent losses / consumption /
ppm, depending on ion identity and the disposition of
replacement, reduced anti-foam usage, reduced
the author. Our experience servicing hundreds of
foaming, reduced filtration costs, reduced heat
amine systems worldwide leads us to recommend, as a
exchanger fouling, reduced gas treating unit operating
general rule, total HSS anion of 5000 ppm or less for
costs, fewer production curtailments, fewer upsets of
the most trouble-free operations. The MPR HSSX®
waste water treatment plant, record crude, coker,
process also removes degradation products such as
cracker runs, increased overall production, ability to run
amino acids including Bicine and HES and Amides from
sourer crude, increased sulfur production.
amine solutions.

MPR Services Phone +31 10 434 1205 Fax +31 10 434 8112 MPReurope@TKInet.com www.mprservices.com
HSSX® based on anion exchange is a chemically clean The SSX™ technology of MPR is a method where the
and environmentally friendly way to remove HSS and solids are attracted to its media. This leads to the
maintain the necessary low levels of HSS in amine advantage that the SSX™ media normally does not
systems. Cations, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, plug, there is a low pressure drop, and SSX™ can
etc are similarly removed from amine systems by cation remove particles to less than 1 micron. The media is
exchange. MPR Services has been providing successful regenerated with water and SSX™ works well on rich or
amine ion exchange reclaiming services world-wide lean side treating.
since 1991. The advances in ion exchange have lead to
reduced chemical and water consumption. Caustic
utilization: recent advances have reduced that to just
over 1 mole NaOH per mole HSS anion. Water
requirements, depending on the application, now can be
about 2/3 to 1/5 of the water demand 15 years ago.
Mobile HSSX® ion exchange units have become
available throughout the world. In addition to efficiently
removing HSS, another primary advantage of ion
exchange is that its waste is biodegradable.

Mobile HCX™ process – Hydrocarbons removal


Hydrocarbons are associated with plant upsets and they
are frequently blamed as a source of foaming.
Hydrocarbons and antifoam combine with solids that
may result in plugging. Hydrocarbons are a poison to
Claus catalysts. Most gas treating systems have a
permanently installed phase separator (knock-out drum)
to deal with hydrocarbons that are not miscible with the
gas treating solution. Hydrocarbons which make it past
the phase separator require a reclaiming method.
MDEA before and after cleaning
Quite a few amine systems use a tank filled with
activated carbon to address dissolved and entrained
Mobile OXEXTM Process hydrocarbons. In practice activated carbon bed
The advantage of the OXEX™ process is that it performance suffers from the problems of being
converts the oxazolidones back into useful amine. The undersized and neglected. The activated carbon also
waste is easily discarded to the waste water treatment needs to be regularly replaced leading to purchase and
facilities because the waste contains only water and disposal costs as well as the labor required. Monitoring
carbonate and sulfate salts. Recent advances in the the condition of an activated carbon filter is also difficult.
OXEX™ process have lead to reduced costs and
improved throughput. The conversion efficiency has
been greater than 95% and typically 100% (once
through) for the batch process.

Mobile SSX™ process – Solids removal


Solids normally provide different types of problems for
amine operators. Solids are a heterogeneous phase.
Solids can settle out or combine with hydrocarbons or
antifoam and coat the internal components of the amine
system. The “shoe polish” that coats the internal gas
treating system leads to filter plugging, tray plugging,
and reduced thermal transfer. Another difficulty with
solids is they can contribute to corrosion by mechanical
wear that erodes the internal surfaces. In certain
circumstances solids can stabilize foaming.
MPR Services Phone +31 10 434 1205 Fax +31 10 434 8112 MPReurope@TKInet.com www.mprservices.com 2
The MPR - HCX™ technology uses a surface attraction The GLYCOLEX™ process, utilizing the HSSX® kidney,
of hydrocarbon that removes immiscible, entrained, and cleans the glycol continuously on a slip stream. The
dissolved hydrocarbons from the gas treating systems. kidney is fully automatic and fail safe and maybe leased
The advantage is the HCXTM media normally is back from MPR with a process service agreement for on-
washed about every 2 to 5 days to regenerate its going technical support. MPR's programs contribute to
surface. The HCX™ Filter was developed to remove reduced operating expenses, more stable operations,
hydrocarbons including diesel, FCC Gas Oils, paraffin’s, reduced environmental concerns and ability to control
BTEX, and other petroleum intermediates from gas costs with guaranteed performance.
treating solutions. This patented technology is available
world-wide from MPR Services, Inc. The HCX™ Filter is SULFOLEXTM Process – Acid Removal from Sulfolane
expected to save operating expense by reducing system
solvent losses, replacing and disposing of activated Degradation problems with Sulfolane?
carbon, and reducing system upsets. Most common are: Degradation by Oxygen- forms
various acids of CO2 and SO2, Chloride contamination
from CCR catalyst and Cooling water leaks, Trace
olefins and other impurities

Case History:
Sulfolane solution had high chlorides (1,700 ppm) - also
had 1,920 ppm Na (Sea water leakage) MPR's
SulfolexTM Process with Cations and Anion units
reduced Chlorides to 13 ppm and sodium to less than 4
ppm color and solids were also removed.

Skid mounted SSX & HCX unit

Mobile GLYCOLEX™ process – Salt or acid Removal


from glycol systems
Corrosion problems common in most glycol systems are
often directly related to the level of salts in the glycol. In
response to this problem, MPR Services developed the
GLYCOLEX™ process. This process cleans the glycol
on a slip stream. This process has removed salts,
including chlorides, formates, acetates, and glycolates Surfactant Removal – Foaming Abatement -
from glycol systems at refineries, gas plants, and gas/oil SigmaPureTM System
separating facilities in North America and Europe.
Glycol has been cleaned in systems used in gas Foaming under plant conditions is most often attributed
dehydration, BTEX extraction and gas hydrate to solvent contamination by compounds that are known
inhibition. to be or to contain surface active agents (=surfactants).
When operational problems arise, an often tried
The GLYCOLEX™ process is automized and fail safe. response is to add something -- anti-foam, corrosion
The units are available as a mobile or permanent inhibitor, neutralizer, fresh solvent, etc.
installation. MPR's programs contribute to reduced However, additives can change solution properties or
operating expenses, more stable operations, reduced eventually contribute to problems. A much better
environmental concerns and ability to control costs with strategy is removing the contaminants that cause the
guaranteed performance. MPR's GLYCOLEX™ foaming. There is a great improvement of solvent.
Process removes both cation and anion contaminants When operational problems arise, an often tried
from common glycols including mono-ethylene glycol, response is to add something -- anti-foam, corrosion
di-ethylene glycol, tri-ethylene glycol, di-glycol amine inhibitor, neutralizer, fresh solvent, etc. However,
and tetra-ethylene glycol. The glycol systems at additives can change solution properties or eventually
refineries, gas plants, and gas/oil separating facilities contribute to problems.
have successfully treated.

MPR Services Phone +31 10 434 1205 Fax +31 10 434 8112 MPReurope@TKInet.com www.mprservices.com 3
For more information please contact:

Sjaak van Veelen


Tel +31 10 434 1205
Fax +31 10 434 8112
SvVeelen@tkinet.com or Sjaak@MPR-
MiddleEast.com

Samples to:
MPR Services – Tessenderlo Group
F.a.o. Sjaak van Veelen
TM Zevenmanshaven 139
SigmaPure mobile skid unit
NL-3133 CA Vlaardingen
The SigmaPureTM system removes chemical foaming The Netherlands
agents from gas treating solutions, continuously, without
the use of disposable internals, while requiring only
modest supervision from plant personnel. It removes
surfactants formed from the solution and antifoam
degradation, ingress, and salt/residue precursors, while
leaving those solution constituents that do not cause or
enhance foaming untouched. The system allows
continuous monitoring of solvent foaming properties
under operating conditions, in real time, while removing
foam causing chemical agents.

MPR Services Phone +31 10 434 1205 Fax +31 10 434 8112 MPReurope@TKInet.com www.mprservices.com 4
MPR Services Phone +31 10 434 1205 Fax +31 10 434 8112 MPReurope@TKInet.com www.mprservices.com 5

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