PHYSICAL ABSORPTION

In the amine and alkali salt processes, the acid gases are removed in two steps:
physical absorption followed by chemical reaction.

In processes such as Selexol or Rectisol, no chemical reaction occurs and acid gas
removal depends entirely on physical absorption.

Some of the inherent advantages and disadvantages of physical absorption processes

are summarized below:

• Absorption processes are generally most efficient when the partial pressures of the
acid gases are relatively high, because partial pressure is the driving force for the
absorption.

• Heavy hydrocarbons are strongly absorbed by the solvents used, and consequently
acid gas removal is most efficient in natural gases with low concentrations of heavier
hydrocarbons.

• Solvents can be chosen for selective removal of sulfur compounds, which allows CO2
to be slipped into the residue gas stream and reduce separation costs.

• Energy requirements for regeneration of the solvent are lower than in systems that
involve chemical reactions.

• Partial dehydration occurs along with acid gas removal, whereas amine processes
produce a water saturated product stream that must be dried in most applications.

SELEXOL PROCESS
Solubility of gas in Selexol

It is clear that H2S has high solubility compared to CO2. For CO2 Solubility
increase with partial pressure.

Process Flow Diagram

 ADSORPTION

Acid gases, as well as water, can be effectively removed by physical adsorption

on synthetic zeolites.
Figure 5.10, which shows typical isotherms for CO2 and H2S on molecular sieve,
indicates that at ambient temperatures substantial quantities of both gases are
adsorbed even at low partial pressures.