PHASE-EQUILIBRIA IN THE SYSTEM N-BUTANE-WATER-METHYLDIETHANOLAMINE

Aqueous solutions of alkanolamines are often used to remove the acid g ases (CO2 and H2S) from hydrocarbon streams. The application of the ab sorption process to liquid hydrocarbons is not as well developed as it s use for gaseous hydrocarbon streams. As well, experimental data for systems of amine solutions and liquefied petroleum gases are scarce. N ew data have been obtained for the equilibria in the system n-butane-w ater-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). A knowledge of the phase behavior in this system is needed to model the equilibria encountered in the quat ernary and quinary systems of industrial importance. In this work vapo r-liquid, liquid-liquid and vapor-liquid-liquid equilibria have been m easured at temperatures between 25 degrees and 150 degrees C at pressu res up to 20 MPa for a 3 M solution of MDEA.