Analysis of Foaming Mechanisms in Amine Plants - Sponsored Whitepaper

Foaming in amine plants increases operating costs and reduces treating efficiency. When foaming becomes severe, amine is often carried over into downstream treating equipment. It is commonly held that liquid hydrocarbons and iron sulfide cause foaming. Most treatments rely heavily on carbon filtration and the addition of antifoam agents to the circulating solutions. Unfortunately, most antifoam agents are surface active, and are removed by activated carbon. Most often, after a brief improvement the problem becomes worse.

Since pure amines do not form stable foams, one or more components must be present in the treating solution in order to form a persistent foam. Possible contaminants include not only liquid hydrocarbons and iron sulfide, but well treating fluids, amine degradation products, and other finely divided solids. The purpose of this work is to determine the physical/chemical mechanisms which cause foaming and offer some practical solutions to control the foaming.