Overview

The upgrading of sub-quality natural gas or synthesis gas requires the removal of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and other trace constituents. In most cases of natural gas treatment, the clean gas specifications are 50 ppm or 2 vol. % carbon dioxide and less than 4 ppm hydrogen sulphide. The application of physical solvents is especially preferred with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulphide in the feed gas.

The proprietary Uhde Morphysorb^® Technology is based on the use of a physical solvent consisting of the morpholine derivatives N-formylmorpholine and N-acetylmorpholine. It is the result of extensive laboratory research and a series of field tests carried out in collaboration with the Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, Illinois, USA.

Pressurised gases with carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulphide concentrations of up to 70 % can be easily treated. Furthermore, the solvent is also suitable for removing water from the feed gas, thus permitting dehydration and acid gas removal steps to be combined.

The first commercial plant using Uhde's Morphysorb^® technology was commissioned in December 2002 in British Columbia, Canada.