Process for the Selective Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide From Gaseous Mixtures With Severely Sterically Hindered Secondary Aminoether Alcohols

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a process for the selective removal of H.sub.2 S from gaseous mixtures containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 wherein an absorbent comprising severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohols is employed.

2. Description of Related Patents

It is well known in the art to treat gases and liquids, such as mixtures containing acidic gases including CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, CS.sub.2, HCN, COS and oxygen and sulfur derivatives of C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons with amine solutions to remove these acidic gases. The amine usually contacts the acidic gases and the liquids as an aqueous solution containing the amine in an absorber tower with the aqueous amine solution contacting the acidic fluid countercurrently.

The treatment of acid gas mixtures containing, inter alia, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S with amine solutions typically results in the simultaneous removal of substantial amounts of both the CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S. For example, in one such process generally referred to as the "aqueous amine process," relatively concentrated amine solutions are employed. A recent improvement on this process involves the use of sterically hindered amines as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,052, to obtain nearly complete removal of acid gases such as CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S. This type of process may be used where the partial pressures of the CO.sub.2 and related gases are low. Another process often used for specialized applications where the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 is extremely high and/or where many acid gases are present, e.g., H.sub.2 S, COS, CH.sub.3 SH and CS.sub.2 involves the use of an amine in combination with a physical absorbent, generally referred to as the "nonaqueous solvent process." An improvement on this process involves the use of sterically hindered amines and organic solvents as the physical absorbent such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,051.

It is often desirable, however, to treat acid gas mixtures containing both CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S so as to remove the H.sub.2 S selectively from the mixture, thereby minimizing removal of the CO.sub.2. Selective removal of H.sub.2 S results in a relatively high H.sub.2 S/CO.sub.2 ratio in the separated acid gas which simplifies the conversion of H.sub.2 S to elemental sulfur using the Claus process.

The typical reactions of aqueous secondary and tertiary amines with CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S can be represented as follows:

wherein R is an organic radical which may be the same or different and may be substituted with a hydroxyl group. The above reactions are reversible, and the partial pressures of both CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S are thus important in determining the degree to which the above reactions occur.

While selective H.sub.2 S removal is applicable to a number of gas treating operations including treatment of hydrocarbon gases from shale pyrolysis, refinery gas and natural gas having a low H.sub.2 S/CO.sub.2 ratio, it is particularly desirable in the treatment of gases wherein the partial pressure of H.sub.2 S is relatively low compared to that of CO.sub.2 because the capacity of an amine to absorb H.sub.2 S from the latter type gases is very low. Examples of gases with relatively low partial pressures of H.sub.2 S include synthetic gases made by coal gasification, sulfur plant tail gas and low-Joule fuel gases encountered in refineries where heavy residual oil is being thermally converted to lower molecular weight liquids and gases.

Although it is known that solutions of primary and secondary amines such as monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), dipropanolamine (DPA), and hydroxyethoxyethylamine (DGA) absorb both H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 gas, they have not proven especially satisfactory for preferential absorption of H.sub.2 S to the exclusion of CO.sub.2 because the amines undergo a facile reaction with CO.sub.2 to form carbamates.

Diisopropanolamine (DIPA) is relatively unique among secondary aminoalcohols in that it has been used industrially, alone or with a physical solvent such as sulfolane, for selective removal of H.sub.2 S from gases containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2, but contact times must be kept relatively short to take advantage of the faster reaction of H.sub.2 S with the amine compared to the rate of CO.sub.2 reaction as shown in Equations 2 and 4 hereinabove.

In 1950, Frazier and Kohl, Ind. and Eng. Chem., 42, 2288 (1950) showed that the tertiary amine, methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), has a high degree of selectivity toward H.sub.2 S absorption over CO.sub.2. This greater selectivity was attributed to the relatively slow chemical reaction of CO.sub.2 with tertiary amines as compared to the rapid chemical reaction of H.sub.2 S. The commercial usefulness of MDEA, however, is limited because of its restricted capacity for H.sub.2 S loading and its limited ability to reduce the H.sub.2 S content to the level at low pressures which is necessary for treating, for example, synthetic gases made by coal gasification.

Recently, U.K. Patent Publication 2,017,524A to Shell disclosed that aqueous solutions of dialkylmonoalkanolamines, and particularly diethylmonoethanolamine (DEAE), have higher selectivity and capacity for H.sub.2 S removal at higher loading levels than MDEA solutions. Nevertheless, even DEAE is not very effective for the low H.sub.2 S loading frequently encountered in the industry. Also, DEAE has a boiling point of 161.degree. C., and as such, it is characterized as being a low-boiling, relatively highly volatile amino alcohol. Such high volatilities under most gas scrubbing conditions result in large material losses with consequent losses in economic advantages.

It has now been discovered that absorbent solutions of a certain class of amino compounds defined as severely sterically hindered aminoether alcohols have a high selectivity for H.sub.2 S compared to CO.sub.2. These amino compounds surprisingly maintain their high selectivity at high H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 loadings.

The severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohols herein may have either acyclic or cyclic moieties attached to the nitrogen atom(s) of the aminoether alcohols. By the term "severely sterically hindered" it is meant that the nitrogen atom of the amino moiety is attached to one or more bulky carbon groupings. Typically, the severely sterically hindered aminoether alcohols have a degree of steric hindrance such that the cumulative .sup.- E.sub.s value (Taft's steric hindrance constant) is greater than about 1.75 as calculated from the values given for primary amines in Table V in D. F. DeTar, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 45, 5174 (1980), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Another means for determining whether a secondary amino compound is "severely sterically hindered" is by measuring its 15N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift. By such measurements it has been found that the "ordinary sterically hindered" secondary amino compounds have a 15N NMR chemical shift greater than about .delta.+40 ppm, when a 90% by wt. amine solution in 10% by wt. D.sub.2 O at 35.degree. C. is measured by a spectrometer using liquid (neat) ammonia at 25.degree. C. as a zero reference value. For example, 2-(2-tertiarybutylamino)propoxyethanol, 3-(tertiarybutylamino)-1-propanol, 2-(2-isopropylamino)-propoxyethanol and tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol had measured 15N NMR chemical shift values of .delta.+74.3, .delta.+65.9, .delta.+65.7 and .delta.+60.5 ppm, respectively, whereas the ordinary sterically hindered amine, secondarybutylaminoethoxyethanol and the non-sterically hindered amine, n-butylaminoethoxyethanol had measured 15N NMR chemical shift values of .delta.+48.9 and .delta.35.8 ppm, respectively. When the cumulative .sup.- E.sub.s values (Taft's steric hindrance constant of these amines) is plotted against the 15N NMR chemical shift values of the amino compounds mentioned above, a straight line is observed. As evident in the data shown herein, those amino compounds analyzed having an 15N NMR chemical shift values greater than .delta.+50 ppm under the test conditions described above had a higher H.sub.2 S selectively than those amino compounds having an 15N NMR chemical shift less than .delta.+50 ppm. The tertiary amino compound used for comparison herein, methyldiethanolamine, had a measured 15N NMR chemical shift value of .delta.27.4.

In particular, the present invention relates to a process for the selective absorption of H.sub.2 S from a normally gaseous mixture containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 comprising:

(a) contacting said normally gaseous mixture with an absorbent solution comprising: a severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohol having a cumulative .sup.- E.sub.s value (Taft's steric hindrance constant) greater than about 1.75 under conditions such that H.sub.2 S is selectively absorbed from said mixture;

(b) regenerating, at least partially, said absorbent solution containing H.sub.2 S; and

(c) recycling the regenerated solution for the selective absorption of H.sub.2 S by contacting as in step (a).

Preferably, the regeneration step is carried out by heating and stripping and more preferably heating and stripping with steam.

The amino compound is preferably one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol, 2-(2-tertiarybutylamino)propoxyethanol, tertiaryamylaminoethoxyethanol, (1-methyl-1-ethylpropylamino)ethoxyethanol, and 2-(2-isopropylamino)propoxyethanol. One of the preferred amino compounds is tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE), a novel compound, the subject of copending application U.S. Ser. No. 339,892, filed even date herewith.

The amino compounds herein are further characterized by their low volatility and high solubility in water at selective H.sub.2 S removal conditions, and most of the compounds are also generally soluble in polar organic solvent systems which may or may not contain water. The term "absorbent solution" as used herein includes but is not limited to solutions wherein the amino compound is dissolved in a solvent selected from water or a physical absorbent or mixtures thereof. Solvents which are physical absorbents (as opposed to the amino compounds which are chemical absorbents) are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,051, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and include, e.g., aliphatic acid amides, N-alkylated pyrrolidones, sulfones, sulfoxides, glycols and the mono- and diethers thereof. The preferred physical absorbents herein are sulfones, and most particularly, sulfolane.

The absorbent solution ordinarily has a concentration of amino compound of about 0.1 to 6 moles per liter of the total solution, and preferably 1 to 4 moles per liter, depending primarily on the specific amino compound employed and the solvent system utilized. If the solvent system is a mixture of water and a physical absorbent, the typical effective amount of the physical absorbent employed may vary from 0.1 to 5 moles per liter of total solution, and preferably from 0.5 to 3 moles per liter, depending mainly on the type of amino compound being utilized. The dependence of the concentration of amino compound on the particular compound employed is significant because increasing the concentration of amino compound may reduce the basicity of the absorbent solution, thereby adversely affecting its selectivity for H.sub.2 S removal, particularly if the amino compound has a specific aqueous solubility limit which will determine maximum concentration levels within the range given above. It is important, therefore, that the proper concentration level appropriate for each particular amino compound be maintained to insure satisfactory results.

The solution of this invention may include a variety of additives typically employed in selective gas removal processes, e.g., antifoaming agents, anti-oxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and the like. The amount of these additives will typically be in the range that they are effective, i.e., an effective amount.

Also, the amino compounds described herein may be admixed with other amino compounds as a blend, preferably with methyldiethanolamine. The ratio of the respective amino compounds may vary widely, for example, from 1 to 99 weight percent of the amino compounds described herein.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic flow sheet illustrating an absorption-regeneration unit for selective removal of H.sub.2 S from gaseous streams containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic flow sheet illustrating an experimental sparged absorber unit for use in rapid determination of the selectivity of the amino compound for selective removal of H.sub.2 S from gaseous streams containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2.

FIG. 3 graphically illustrates the selectivity of H.sub.2 S plotted against moles of H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 loading per mole of amine for tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE) as compared to tertiarybutylaminoethanol (TBE) and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA).

FIG. 4 graphically illustrates the selectivity for H.sub.2 S plotted against the H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 loading for tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE) as compared to methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), secondarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (SBEE) and isopropylaminoethoxyethanol (IPEE).

FIG. 5 graphically illustrates the H.sub.2 S leak rate plotted against H.sub.2 S loading in mole/mole amine for tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE) as compared against methyldiethanolamine (MDEA).

The relationship between molecular weight and volatility is well recognized. The indiscriminate increase in molecular weight of tertiary amino alcohols or sterically hindered secondary amino alcohols, for the purpose of lowering volatility, may have an adverse effect on the utility of the amino compound as an absorbent for aqueous gas scrubbing purposes. Simple molecular weight changes may decrease (a) aqueous solubility and/or (b) amine base strength.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that volatility losses of amino alcohols can be controlled or completely eliminated by the alkoxylation of severely sterically hindered secondary amino alcohols. The process of alkoxylation has been found to have a negligible effect on the pK.sub.a of the amino alcohol so that the gas scrubbing chemistry which is a function of base strength is not altered. Significantly, it has been found that the increase in molecular mass by alkoxylation does not decrease aqueous solubility. In fact, in some cases alkoxylation can greatly increase aqueous solubility. The volatilities of the alkoxylated amino alcohols are such that their boiling points are greater than 180.degree. C. (at 760 mm) and generally greater than 200.degree. C. and more frequently greater than 225.degree. C.

The severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohols useful in the practice of the invention include those defined by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of primary alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and primary hydroxyalkyl radicals having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, branched chain alkyl and branched chain hydroxyalkyl radicals having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and cycloalkyl and hydroxycycloalkyl radicals having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydroxyalkyl radicals, with the proviso that when R.sub.1 is a primary alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical, both R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 bonded to the carbon atom directly bonded to the nitrogen atom are alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radicals and that when the carbon atom of R.sub.1 directly bonded to the nitrogen atom is secondary at least one of R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 bonded to the carbon atom directly bonded to the nitrogen atom is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical, x and y are each positive integers independently ranging from 2 to 4 and z is a positive integer ranging from 1 to 4.

Specific non-limiting examples of the severely hindered secondary aminoether alcohols include the following compounds: ##STR2##

The amino compounds used in the process of the present invention have a pK.sub.a value at 20.degree. C. greater than 8.6, preferably greater than about 9.5 and more preferably the pK.sub.a value of the amino compound will range between about 9.5 and about 10.6. If the pK.sub.a is less than 8.6 the reaction with H.sub.2 S is decreased, whereas if the pK.sub.a of the amino compound is much greater than about 10.6, an excessive amount of steam is required to regenerate the solution. Also, to insure operational efficiency with minimal losses of the amino compound, the amino compound should have a relatively low volatility. For example, the boiling point of the amine (at 760 mm) is typically greater than about 180.degree. C., preferably greater than 200.degree. C., and more preferably greater than 225.degree. C.

Three characteristics which are of ultimate importance in determining the effectiveness of the amino compounds herein for H.sub.2 S removal are "selectivity", "loading" and "capacity". The term "selectivity" as used throughout the specification is defined as the following mole ratio fraction: ##EQU1## The higher this fraction, the greater the selectivity of the absorbent solution for the H.sub.2 S in the gas mixture.

By the term "loading" is meant the concentration of the H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 gases physically dissolved and chemically combined in the absorbent solution as expressed in moles of gas per mole of the amine. The best amino compounds are those which exhibit good selectivity up to a relatively high loading level. The amino compounds used in the practice of the present invention typically have a "selectivity" of not substantially less than 10 at a "loading" of 0.1 moles, preferably, a "selectivity" of not substantially less than 10 at a loading of 0.2 or more moles of H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 per mole of the amino compound.

"Capacity" is defined as the moles of H.sub.2 S loaded in the absorbent solution at the end of the absorption step minus the moles of H.sub.2 S loaded in the absorbent solution at the end of the desorption step. High capacity enables one to reduce the amount of amine solution to be circulated, use less heat or steam during regeneration.

The acid gas mixture herein necessarily includes H.sub.2 S, and may optionally include other gases such as CO.sub.2, N.sub.2, CH.sub.4, H.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2, COS, HCN, C.sub.2 H.sub.4, NH.sub.3, and the like. Often such gas mixtures are found in combustion gases, refinery gases, town gas, natural gas, syn gas, water gas, propane, propylene, heavy hydrocarbon gases, etc. The absorbent solution herein is particularly effective when the gaseous mixture is a gas, obtained, for example, from shale oil retort gas, coal or gasification of heavy oil with air/stream or oxygen/steam thermal conversion of heavy residual oil to lower molecular weight liquids and gases, or in sulfur plant tail gas clean-up operations.

The absorption step of this invention generally involves contacting the gaseous stream with the absorbent solution in any suitable contacting vessel. In such processes, the normally gaseous mixture containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 from which the H.sub.2 S is to be selectively removed may be brought into intimate contact with the absorbent solution using conventional means, such as a tower or vessel packed with, for example, rings or with sieve plates , or a bubble reactor.

In a typical mode of practicing the invention, the absorption step is conducted by feeding the normally gaseous mixture into the lower portion of the absorption tower while fresh absorbent solution is fed into the upper region of the tower. The normally gaseous mixture, freed largely from the H.sub.2 S, emerges from the upper portion of the tower, and the loaded absorbent solution, which contains the selectively absorbed H.sub.2 S, leaves the tower near or at its bottom. Preferably, the inlet temperature of the absorbent solution during the absorption step is in the range of from about 20.degree. to about 100.degree. C., and more preferably from 40.degree. to about 60.degree. C. Pressures may vary widely; acceptable pressures are between 5 and 2000 psia, preferably 20 to 1500 psia, and most preferably 25 to 1000 psia in the absorber. The contacting takes place under conditions such that the H.sub.2 S is selectively absorbed by the solution. The absorption conditions and apparatus are designed so as to minimize the residence time of the liquid in the absorber to reduce CO.sub.2 pickup while at the same time maintaining sufficient residence time of gas mixture with liquid to absorb a maximum amount of the H.sub.2 S gas. The amount of liquid required to be circulated to obtain a given degree of H.sub.2 S removal will depend on the chemical structure and basicity of the amino compound and on the partial pressure of H.sub.2 S in the feed gas. Gas mixtures with low partial pressures such as those encountered in thermal conversion processes will require more liquid under the same absorption conditions than gases with higher partial pressures such as shale oil retort gases.

A typical procedure for the selective H.sub.2 S removal phase of the process comprises selectively absorbing H.sub.2 S via countercurrent contact of the gaseous mixture containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 with the aqueous solution of the amino compound in a column containing a plurality of trays at a low temperature, e.g., below 45.degree. C., and at a gas velocity of at least about 0.3 ft/sec (based on "active" or aerated tray surface), depending on the operating pressure of the gas, said tray column having fewer than 20 contacting trays, with, e.g., 4-16 trays being typically employed.

After contacting the normally gaseous mixture with the absorbent solution, which becomes saturated or partially saturated with H.sub.2 S, the solution may be at least partially regenerated so that it may be recycled back to the absorber. As with absorption, the regeneration may take place in a single liquid phase. Regeneration or desorption of the acid gases from the absorbent solution may be accomplished by conventional means such as pressure reduction of the solution or increase of temperature to a point at which the absorbed H.sub.2 S flashes off, or by passing the solution into a vessel of similar construction to that used in the absorption step, at the upper portion of the vessel, and passing an inert gas such as air or nitrogen or preferably steam upwardly through the vessel. The temperature of the solution during the regeneration step should be in the range from about 50.degree. to about 170.degree. C., and preferably from about 80.degree. to 120.degree. C., and the pressure of the solution on regeneration should range from about 0.5 to about 100 psia, preferably 1 to about 50 psia. The absorbent solution, after being cleansed of at least a portion of the H.sub.2 S gas, may be recycled back to the absorbing vessel. Makeup absorbent may be added as needed.

In the preferred regeneration technique, the H.sub.2 S-rich solution is sent to the regenerator wherein the absorbed components are stripped by the steam which is generated by re-boiling the solution. Pressure in the flash drum and stripper is usually 1 to about 50 psia, preferably 15 to about 30 psia, and the temperature is typically in the range from about 50.degree. to 170.degree. C., preferably about 80.degree. to 120.degree. C. Stripper and flash temperatures will, of course, depend on stripper pressure; thus at about 15 to 30 psia stripper pressures, the temperature will be about 80.degree. to about 120.degree. C. during desorption. Heating of the solution to be regenerated may very suitably be effected by means of indirect heating with low-pressure steam. It is also possible, however, to use direct injection steam.

In one embodiment for practicing the entire process herein, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the gas mixture to be purified is introduced through line 1 into the lower portion of a gas-liquid countercurrent contacting column 2, said contacting column having a lower section 3 and an upper section 4. The upper and lower sections may be segregated by one or a plurality of packed beds as desired. The absorbent solution as described above is introduced into the upper portion of the column through a pipe 5. The solution flowing to the bottom of the column encounters the gas flowing countercurrently and dissolves the H.sub.2 S preferentially. The gas freed from most of the H.sub.2 S exits through a pipe 6 for final use. The solution, containing mainly H.sub.2 S and some CO.sub.2, flows toward the bottom portion of the column, from which it is discharged through pipe 7. The solution is then pumped via optional pump 8 through an optional heat exchanger and cooler 9 disposed in pipe 7, which allows the hot solution from the regenerator 12 to exchange heat with the cooler solution from the absorber column 2 for energy conservation. The solution is entered via pipe 7 to a flash drum 10 equipped with a line (not shown) which vents to line 13 and then introduced by pipe 11, into the upper portion of the regenerator 12, which is equipped with several plates and effects the desorption of the H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 gases carried along in the solution. This acid gas mixture is passed through a pipe 13 into a condenser 14 wherein cooling and condensation of water and amine solution from the gas occur. The gas then enters into a separator 15 where further condensation is effected. The condensed solution is returned through pipe 16 to the upper portion of the regenerator 12. The gas remaining from the condensation, which contains H.sub.2 S and some CO.sub.2, is removed through pipe 17 for final disposal (e.g., to a vent or incinerator or an apparatus which converts the H.sub.2 S to sulfur, such as a Claus unit or a Stretford conversion unit (not shown)).

The solution is liberated from most of the gas which it contains while flowing downward through the regenerator 12 and exits through pipe 18 at the bottom of the regenerator for transfer to a reboiler 19. Reboiler 19, equipped with an external source of heat (e.g., steam injected through pipe 20 and the condensate exits through a second pipe not shown), vaporizes a portion of this solution (mainly water) to drive further H.sub.2 S therefrom. The H.sub.2 S and steam driven off are returned via pipe 21 to the lower section of the regenerator 12 and exited through pipe 13 for entry into the condensation stages of gas treatment. The solution remaining in the reboiler 19 is drawn through pipe 22, cooled in heat exchanger 9, and introduced via the action of pump 23 (optional if pressure is sufficiently high) through pipe 5 into the absorber column 2.

The amino compounds herein are found to be superior to those used in the past, particularly to MDEA and DEAE, in terms of both selectivity and capacity for maintaining selectivity over a broad loading range. Typically, a gaseous stream to be treated having a 1:10 mole ratio of H.sub.2 S:CO.sub.2 from an apparatus for thermal conversion of heavy residual oil, or a Lurgi coal gas having a mole ratio of H.sub.2 S:CO.sub.2 of less than 1:10 will yield an acid gas having a mole ratio of H.sub.2 S:CO.sub.2 of about 1:1 after treatment by the process of the present invention. The process herein may be used in conjunction with another H.sub.2 S selective removal process; however, it is preferred to carry out the process of this invention by itself, since the amino compounds are extremely effective by themselves in preferential absorption of H.sub.2 S.

The invention is illustrated further by the following examples, which, however, are not to be taken as limiting in any respect. All parts and percentages, unless expressly stated to be otherwise, are by weight.

A solution of 41.76 g of tertiarybutylamine and 28.66 g of 2-chloroethoxyethanol in 115 ml of ethanol was charged to a 300 ml metal autoclave and heated at 150.degree. C. for 3 hrs. The contents of the cooled reactor was treated with KOH, refluxed for one hour, cooled, filtered, vacuum stripped and distilled. The product, obtained from the distillate, was analyzed to be tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol having a b.p. of 117.degree. C. at 10 mm.

FIG. 2 illustrates the sparged absorber unit, operated on a semi-batch mode, used to evaluate the selectivity for H.sub.2 S removal of the amino compounds of the invention herein. A gas mixture comprised of 10% CO.sub.2, 1% H.sub.2 S and 89% N.sub.2 expressed in the volume percent, respectively was passed from a gas cylinder (not shown) through line 30 to a meter 31 measuring the rate at which the gas is fed to the absorber. For all examples this rate was 3.6 liters per minute. The gas was then passed through line 32 to a gas chromatography column (not shown) continuously monitoring the composition of the inlet gas and through lines 33 and 34 to a sparged absorber unit 35, which is a cylindrical glass tube 45 cm high and 3.1 cm in diameter charged with 100 ml of the absorbent amine solution 36. The gas was passed through the solution at a solution temperature of 40.degree. C., and 10-ml samples of the solution were periodically removed from the bottom of the absorber unit through lines 34 and 37 to be analyzed for H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 content. The H.sub.2 S content in the liquid sample was determined by titration with silver nitrate. The CO.sub.2 content of the liquid sample was then analyzed by acidifying the sample with an aqueous solution of 10% HCl and measuring the evolved CO.sub.2 by weight gain on NaOH-coated asbestos.

While the solution was being periodically withdrawn from the bottom of the absorber unit, the gas mixture was removed from the top thereof via line 38 to a trap 39 which served to scrub out any H.sub.2 S in the outlet gas. The resulting gas could optionally then be passed via lines 40 and 41 for final disposal or via line 42 to a gas chromatography column (not shown) for periodic evaluation of the composition of the outlet gas to check for system leaks. For purposes of the examples, the H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 contents of the inlet gas phase were measured and the H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 contents of the liquid phase were determined as described above. These data were used to calculate selectivity values of the amine as defined above, which were plotted as a function of the loading of the absorbent solution with H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2, in units of moles acid gas per mole of the amino compound.

In this example an aqueous 3 M solution of tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE) (pK.sub.a =10.3) was employed as the absorbent solution. The selectivity plot of TBEE is indicated in FIG. 3.

The procedure of Example 2 was repeated using as the absorbent solution a 3 M solution of tertiarybutylaminoethanol (TBE) (pK.sub.a =10.2, b.p.=90.degree. C. at 25 mm). The selectivity plot of TBE is indicated in FIG. 3.

The procedure of Example 2 was repeated using as the absorbent solution a 3 M solution of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). The selectivity plot of MDEA is also indicated in FIG. 3.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, TBEE is superior to both TBE and especially MDEA in terms of H.sub.2 S selectivity, particularly at high H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 loadings. It is noteworthy that TBEE is superior to TBE even through both compounds have a pK.sub.a of about 10.3.

Several secondary aminoalcohols and aminoether alcohols were further examined to determine their cumulative .sup.- E.sub.s value (Taft's steric hindrance constants) by taking the Taft .sup.- E.sub.s presented by D. F. DeTar, Journal Organic Chemistry, 45, 5174 (1980) in Table V and pK.sub.a values at 20.degree. C. The results of these evaluations are shown in Table I.

It can be seen from the values in the Table that the severely sterically hindered amino compounds of the invention have cumulative Taft .sup.- E.sub.s values greater than 1.75. Those secondary amino compounds having a summation of .sup.- E.sub.s values below 1.75 have been found to lack the ability to selectively absorb H.sub.2 S versus CO.sub.2 at a level greater than MDEA apparently due to the propensity of the amine to react with the CO.sub.2. This fact is demonstrated in the following examples.

The procedure of Example 2 was repeated using as the absorbent solution a 3 M solution of tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE) (summation .sup.- E.sub.s of 2.10), secondarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (SBEE) (summation .sup.-E.sub.s of 1.32), isopropylaminoethoxyethanol (IPEE) (summation .sup.- E.sub.s of 1.29) and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) (summation .sup.- E.sub.s of 0.79). The selectivity plot for each amine solution is shown in FIG. 4. The plots clearly show that TBEE is far superior to SBEE, IPEE and MDEA in terms of H.sub.2 S selectivity. The plots taken together with the summation of the Taft .sup.- E.sub.s values for the compounds tested also indicate that the severe steric hindrance of TBEE (resulting from the additional carbon atom attached to the carbon atom directly attached to nitrogen atom) has a profound effect on the selective H.sub.2 S absorption properties of the compound.

The procedure of Example 2 was repeated using as the absorbent solution a 3 M solution of (1-methyl-1-ethylpropylamino)ethoxyethanol (b.p. 153.degree. C. (2 mm), pK.sub.a =10.10) and a 3 M solution of tertiaryamylaminoethoxyethanol (b.p. 124.degree. C. (10 mm), pK.sub.a =10.05). The H.sub.2 S selectivity using each of these solutions was superior to MDEA, but not quite as good as TBEE.

This example demonstrates a comparison of the severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohol, tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE), with methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) using a unit such as that shown in FIG. 1.

A 1.5 M aqueous solution of tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE) was charged via pipe 5 into the upper portion of a gas-liquid countercurrent absorption column 2 segregated by three packed beds. The gas to be purified was a synthetic mixture containing 1% H.sub.2 S, 11% CO.sub.2 and 88% N.sub.2 expressed in volume percent, respectively. The gas was introduced through line 1 into the lower portion of column 2 at a gas flow rate of 67 standard cubic feet per minute. The absorber pressure was adjusted to 31 psia. The gas freed from H.sub.2 S exited through pipe 6 and was analyzed. The aqueous amine solution containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 was flowed toward the lower portion of the absorber, from which it was discharged through pipe 7. The solution was then passed via pump 8 through a simulated heat exchanger and cooler 9 disposed in pipe 7, which allowed the hot solution from the regenerator 12 to equilibrate in temperature with the cooler solution from the absorber column 2. The hot rich solution was then entered via pipe 7, to a flash drum 10 equipped with a line (not shown) which vents to line 13 and then introduced by pipe 11 into the upper portion of the regenerator 12 to effect desorption of the H.sub. 2 S gas. The pressure of the regenerator was set at 33 psia. The H.sub.2 S gas was passed through a pipe 13 into a condenser 14 wherein cooling and condensation of water and amine solution from the gas occurred. The gas was then entered into a separator 15 where further condensation took place. The condensed solution was returned through pipe 16 to the upper portion of the regenerator 12. The solution liberated from the gas which it contained was flowed downward through the regenerator 12 and exited through pipe 18 at the bottom of the regenerator for transfer to a reboiler 19. Reboiler 19, equipped with a steam injection pipe 20 and a condensate exit pipe (not shown), vaporized a portion of this solution to drive additional H.sub.2 S therefrom. The H.sub.2 S driven off was returned via pipe 21 to the lower section of the regenerator 12 and exited through pipe 13. The solution remaining in the reboiler 19 was drawn through pipe 22, cooled in heat exchanger 9, and introduced via the action of pump 23 through pipe 5 into absorber 2.

The flow rate was slowly adjusted downward until the H.sub.2 S leak rate showed a dramatic increase.

The experiment was repeated using in place of tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol (TBEE), a 3 M aqueous solution of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). The results of both experiments were plotted wherein the H.sub.2 S leak rate (Vppm) was plotted against H.sub.2 S loading in moles/mol amine. The results are shown in FIG. 5. These results show that tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol gives far greater cleanup, even at higher H.sub.2 S loadings in a continuous selective H.sub.2 S removal process than methyldiethanolamine (MDEA).

In summary, this invention is seen to provide a special class of amino compounds characterized as severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohols having a high selectivity for H.sub.2 S in preference to CO.sub.2 which selectivity is maintained at high H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 loading levels.

These amino compounds are capable of reducing the H.sub.2 S in gaseous mixtures to a relatively low level, e.g., less than about 200 Vppm and have a relatively high capacity for H.sub.2 S, e.g., greater than about 0.2 mole of H.sub.2 S per mole of amine. The amino compounds are characterized as having a "kinetic selectivity" for H.sub.2 S, i.e., a faster reaction rate for H.sub.2 S than for CO.sub.2 at absorption conditions. In addition they have a higher capacity for H.sub.2 S at equivalent kinetic selectivity for H.sub.2 S over CO.sub.2. This higher capacity results in the economic advantage of lower steam requirements during regeneration.

The data in FIGS. 3 and 4 also show that the amino compounds of the present invention have very high capacity for both H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 compared to methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) in addition to high H.sub.2 S selectivities. It will be apparent from an inspection of the data in FIGS. 3 and 4 that if the absorption process is conducted under conditions such that the amino compound has a long contact time with the gases to be absorbed, the selectivity for H.sub.2 S decreases, but the overall capacity for both CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S remains rather high. Therefore, one may, in some instances, wish to carry out a "non-selective" absorption process to take advantage of the large absorption capacity of the amino compounds of the invention. Accordingly, one may carry out a "non-selective" acid gas removal absorption process using the amino compounds of the invention. Such "non-selective" processes are particularly useful in scrubbing natural gases which contain relatively high levels of H.sub.2 S and low to nil levels of CO.sub.2. As such, the amino compounds of the invention may replace some or all of monoethanolamine (MEA) or diethanolamine (DEA) commonly used for such scrubbing processes.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention.