Treatment FAQ

why are amines used in water treatment

by Prof. Jeremie Veum I Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Here’s why:

  • They are alkaline, which means they can neutralize acids that can form in the condensate by raising the pH.
  • They reduce the effects of carbon dioxide and other acid-forming compounds.
  • They do not have any adverse effects on copper or copper alloys under normal treatment conditions, as long as pH is consistent. ...

Neutralizing amines are volatile compounds that control corrosion by neutralizing the corrosive carbonic acid that forms in the condensate due to the thermal decomposition of the natural alkalinity in the boiler makeup water.

Full Answer

What is the use of amine treatment?

Amine Treatment. An amine treating unit captures hydrogen sulfide and other acidic gases from the refinery gas streams and concentrates them into an amine solution. It is also used to capture acidic gases from raw or sour natural gasses. Amine gas sweetening is a proven technology that removes H₂S and CO₂ from natural gas...

How do you neutralize amines in water?

When added to water, neutralizing amines hydrolyze and generate the required hydroxide ions for neutralization. Cyclohexylamine – An amine with a high neutralizing capacity, which is extremely important in treating systems where the feedwater has a high alkalinity.

What is the purpose of amines in nutrition products?

Later research showed that not all nutrition products are amines, and the term was shortened to “vitamins.” Ammonia and amines commonly are used in water-based inks and coatings, as well as adhesives. They serve to “dissolve” the acidic resins and stabilize emulsions and pigment dispersions by charge repulsion.

What is the purpose of amine injection in steam pipe?

The amine injection is used to maintain the low return condensate PH to a range of 8.5-9.0. Low pH can damage carbon steel piping systems. This low pH is caused by carbon dioxide (almost always present) reacting with the water to form carbonic acid (similar to acid rain) as the steam condenses.

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Does amine increase pH?

Neutralizing Amine Feed Neutralizing amines are used in boiler water treatment to control condensate return line corrosion. Here's why: They are alkaline, which means they can neutralize acids that can form in the condensate by raising the pH. They reduce the effects of carbon dioxide and other acid-forming compounds.

How does one type of amine protect a condensate system?

Neutralising amines are volatile, alkaline chemicals that increase the condensate pH level. They offer protection against carbonic acid attack, but do not completely prevent oxygen corrosion. Filming amines form a barrier between the metal and the condensate, thus preventing both carbonic acid and oxygen attack.

How do filming amines work?

Filming amines work by laying down a protective monomolecular film on the system piping minimizing corrosive condensate and dissolved gasses from reaching the metal surface. Their strong affinity for metal is caused by the free electron pair on the nitrogen in the amine.

How do you treat condensate water?

CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF CONDENSATE SYSTEMS Treatment chemicals include neutralizing amines, filming amines, and oxygen scavenger-metal passivators. By regulating the neutralizing amine feed rate, the condensate pH can be elevated to within a desired range (e.g., 8.8-9.2 for a mixed copper-iron condensate system).

What are amines used for in boilers?

Neutralizing amines control corrosion in condensate applications by diminishing the effects of carbon dioxide and other acid forming compounds. Neutralizing amines are used in boiler water treatment to control condensate return line corrosion.

What causes high pH in condensate?

These chemicals, such as morpholine, cyclohexylamine, and diethylaminoethanol (DEAE), become volatile when mixing with steam and condense in the same way that the carbon dioxide does. They then neutralize the carbonic acid and increase the condensate pH.

Why phosphate is added in boiler?

Boiler feedwater can be protected from corrosive conditions through coordinated phosphate/pH control treatment. Phosphate buffers the boiler water, reducing the chance of large pH swings due to the development of caustic concentrations.

What is the pH of condensate water?

between 2 and 4Condensate drains The condensate expelled from a condensing water heater is acidic with a pH of between 2 and 4, so it is critical that the appropriate materials are used in all piping where this liquid is present. In high temperature areas, like the flue, stainless steel must be used to prevent corrosion.

How is TDS measured in boiler water?

The TDS of your boiler water can either be measured by taking a sample of the water and measuring it externally from the boiler or by placing a sensor inside that's designed to detect TDS levels. Keep in mind that a high TDS level indicates high conductivity in the water.

What are amines used for?

Besides water-based inks and coatings, amines are used in a variety of packaging products. They find application as surfactants, lubricants, anti-stats, as well as conductive materials. Dr. Richard M. Podhajny has been in the packaging and printing industry for more than 30 years.

What is the purpose of ammonia and amines in water based inks?

They serve to “dissolve” the acidic resins and stabilize emulsions and pigment dispersions by charge repulsion. They are a key element of most of the water-based products that you use.

What are the ingredients in water based inks?

One of the key ingredients of many water-based inks and coatings are amines. Amines and ammonia are used in water-based products to control pH required for good stability and press performance. But what are amines ?

What is the name of the Polish scientist who discovered that not all nutrition products are amines?

A Polish biochemist, Casimir Funk, published his research at Pasteur Institute of Paris under the title: “The Vitamines.”. Later research showed that not all nutrition products are amines, and the term was shortened to “vitamins.”. Ammonia and amines commonly are used in water-based inks and coatings, as well as adhesives.

Does ammonia have a fishy smell?

Ammonia as well as low molecular amines have very pungent and unpleasant odors. Everyone knows what ammonia smells like, but most amines have an odor, which is sometimes characterized as “fishy.”. As a result, use of amines or ammonia in water-based inks requires good drying ...

Is ammonia a VOC?

It is this pair of non-bonded electrons that make this chemical electron rich (a base). Since it does not have carbon, ammonia is not a VOC by definition.

Does ammonia dry in water?

As a result, use of amines or ammonia in water-based inks requires good drying to remove them from the printed and laminated products. Since these strong amines form salts with acids (for example, acrylic resin binders that are composed of many carboxylic groups) it is very important to decompose these salts with heat during the drying stage.

What is an amine treatment unit?

An amine treating unit captures hydrogen sulfide and other acidic gases from the refinery gas streams and concentrates them into an amine solution. It is also used to capture acidic gases from raw or sour natural gasses. Amine gas sweetening is a proven technology that removes H₂S and CO₂ from natural gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams ...

What are the salts in amine solution?

Amine solutions extract other contaminants that form salts of organic acids and sulfur species such as oxalic acid, formic acid, thiosulfate and thiocyanate. The accumulation of heat-stable salts not only causes a reduction in CO₂ absorption capacity, but also causes a significant increase in the system corrosiveness.

What is amine gas sweetening?

Amine gas sweetening is a proven technology that removes H₂S and CO₂ from natural gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams through absorption and chemical reaction. The entire process is very energy intensive and results in high operating costs.

What is amine injection?

As we all know that amine injection is one the chemical injection other than oxygen scavenger, phosphate, polymer & anti-foaming agent for boiler water treatment. The amine injection is used to maintain the low return condensate PH to a range of 8.5-9.0. Low pH can damage carbon steel piping systems. This low pH is caused by carbon dioxide (almost always present) reacting with the water to form carbonic acid (similar to acid rain) as the steam condenses. If the amine injection requirement is increased in condensate system then something happened at upstream or downstream of the circuit, below are some of the main reasons you can consider during troubleshooting of high amine consumption at boilers.

Why does amine injection increase pH?

REASONS: There is an increase in alkalinity in the boiler feedwater, when it breaks inside boiler it produces carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide forms acidic carbonic acid in condensate returns resulting in pH levels usually below 6.0. As a result, the amine injection requirement increases to maintain a pH of 8.5-9.0.

What temperature does a deaerator need to be to lose amines?

This is important when one of the major areas for amine loss from a system is in the deaerator heater section. since deaerator temperatures are not uncommon at 220 F , amines that form azeotropes can accompany the gases vented from the deaerator. AMP95 and morpholine do not form an azeotrope.

How much pressure do amines need to be in a steam boiler?

They required a pressure of about 75 psig before they will carry over into the steam system. However, when they are fed directly into the boiler, a percentage of the amine will be lost through blowdown (approx equal to the blowdown percent). Feeding directly to the steam header can prevent this.

What is DEHA in piping?

In addition to its metal passivating and oxygen scavenging properties, DEHA degrades (thermal and oxidative degradation ) to form neutralizing amines that protect condensate piping from carbonic acid attack, and to maintain proper pH.

What is DEHA used for?

DEHA (Diethylhydroxylamine) – DEHA is an excellent chemical product used to prevent corrosion by exhibiting characteristics that have gained it widespread use in industrial water treatment. It is highly effective at removing dissolved oxygen from boiler systems, and it also provides excellent metal passivation.

What is cyclohexylamine?

Cyclohexylamine – An amine with a high neutralizing capacity, which is extremely important in treating systems where the feedwater has a high alkalinity. Cyclohexylamine is an organic chemical that offers superior thermal stability at high pressures, and it characteristically distributes into the steam.

Why do boilers need external treatment?

To avoid the corrosion of vital (and costly) metal components throughout boiler systems , external treatment of the feedwater is performed in order to remove dissolved oxygen (DO) and other contaminants such as iron and copper. The majority of the DO removal, along with other dissolved gases, is done by mechanical deaeration.

What is a morphine?

Morpholine – Morpholine is an organic neutralizing amine that primarily distributes into the liquid phase. It offers superior thermal stability at high pressures, and is one of the most common amines used in condensate systems.

How does corrosion control work?

Corrosion control begins by effectively removing contaminants in the feedwater, and then by controlling deposition within the boiler. The final phase of boiler system corrosion control occurs in the Condensate System. Because of carryover, iron and copper corrosion is not limited to the piping and equipment of the condensate system.

How does corrosion affect boilers?

Corrosion can lead to pitting and metal loss that can cause critical system failures – sometimes catastrophic. It is estimated that corrosion in boiler systems cost the industry billions of dollars every year.

What is the purpose of measuring amines in an influent?

They take these into account when performing a total nitrogen balance across a system in order to completely assess the efficiency of their nitrification removal process.

What are the effects of amino acids on water?

Amines are effective surfactants that can act as biocides due to their ability to kill microorganisms. They can enhance the biocidal effect of chlorinated phenolics when they are applied in water.

What is ammonium salt?

Amines are often used as floor finish strippers, buffering agents in liquid laundry detergents and as fabric softeners. The antibacterial precursors of the quaternary ammonium compounds ("quats") are aliphatic long-chain ammonium salts. The direct counter part of soap may be considered as a primary ammonium salt.

Why do food companies use biocides?

Many institutional and fast food restaurants as well as many industrial plants, especially food plants need to use biocides in order to keep the working areas clean or sterile.

Why do municipal plants have problems with ammonia?

Some times this can be due to solids handling reduction and the recycle of ammonia in the returning supernatant. Many plants used digestors to reduce the amount of solids they need to process.

Is quaternary amine soluble in water?

Quaternary amines are soluble in both water and organic liquids and can great ly accelerate certain chemical reactions when added to a heterogeneous system. These amines are highly toxic and are as equally effective as chlorine dioxide disinfectants.

Can you test influent samples separately?

Make sure that if you are testing influent samples, that you are measuring total influent to the plant, including supernatant from sludge dewatering units or digestors. If they have a different feed point, test these streams separately if necessary, but be sure to include the final measurements in your calculations.

What are neutralizing amines used for?

There are several different neutralizing amine components typically used in the treatment of boiler feedwater and/or condensate. Neutralizing amines each have different chemical properties, and it is important to understand the differences so that the correct components can be applied. Neutralizing amines typically applied in power plant systems are cyclohexylamine (CHA), methoxypropylamine (MPA), monoethanolamine (ETA), and morpholine.

What is the purpose of organic neutralizing amines?

These chemicals, when selected and applied properly can provide protection against damage from FAC.

What happens if you feed more or less neutralizing amine in a given system?

This means if you feed more or less neutralizing amine in a given system and affect the pH, the distribution of the amine between the liquid and steam phases will change as well. In addition, the chemistry of neutralization is actually based on equilibrium chemistry of weak acids and weak bases.

How does the distribution ratio of amine affect the amine system?

The distribution ratio of a particular amine also influences how much amine is recycled throughout the system, and how much amine will be lost from the system via boiler blowdown and steam venting. While neutralizing amine chemistry may appear to be relatively straightforward, it is in fact quite complex.

Which amines are thermally stable?

Most amines degrade to some degree in an aqueous, alkaline, high temperature environment to form carbon dioxide, organic acids and ammonia. Morpholine, CHA, ETA, and MPA are considered the most thermally stable amines and are routinely employed in high-pressure power plant applications.

Can ammonia raise pH?

At normal treatment rates and with a properly selected neutralizing amine formulation, it is possible to achieve higher liquid phase pH than with ammonia alone. Furthermore, when ammonia feed rates are elevated to achieve a higher liquid phase pH, steam can become unusable for some applications.

Is ammonia a neutralizer?

Ammonia has the benefit of being a low-cost neutralizing agent that does not elevate steam or condensate cation conductivity. However, neutralizing amines are also employed for pH control in power plant feedwater and steam/condensate systems.

What is amine treating?

In the specific case of the industrial synthesis of ammonia, for the steam reforming process of hydrocarbons to produce gaseous hydrogen, amine treating is one of the commonly used processes for removing excess carbon dioxide in the final purification of the gaseous hydrogen.

What is the most commonly used amine in industrial plants?

Aminoethoxyethanol (Diglycolamine) (DGA) The most commonly used amines in industrial plants are the alkanolamines DEA, MEA, and MDEA. These amines are also used in many oil refineries to remove sour gases from liquid hydrocarbons such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

What gas does an amine absorb?

In the absorber, the downflowing amine solution absorbs H. 2S and CO. 2 from the upflowing sour gas to produce a sweetened gas stream (i.e., a gas free of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide) as a product and an amine solution rich in the absorbed acid gases.

What is the process of removing impurities from gases?

Removal of impurities from gases by scrubbing them in aqueous solutions of various alkylamines. Amine gas treating, also known as amine scrubbing, gas sweetening and acid gas removal, refers to a group of processes that use aqueous solutions of various alkylamines (commonly referred to simply as amines) to remove hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) ...

What is the process of removing hydrogen sulfide from a product?

Processes within oil refineries or chemical processing plants that remove hydrogen sulfide are referred to as "sweetening" processes because the odor of the processed products is improved by the absence of hydrogen sulfide. An alternative to the use of amines involves membrane technology.

Is DEA a primary or secondary amine?

MEA and DEA. MEA and DEA are primary and secondary amines. They are very reactive and can effectively remove a high volume of gas due to a high reaction rate. However, due to stoichiometry, the loading capacity is limited to 0.5 mol CO 2 per mole of amine.

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Filming Amines: An Overview

  • Film-forming amine (FFA) technology first made its introduction in the 1960s with octadecylamine (ODA). This first implementation of filming amines in water treatment was primarily used in instances where pH neutralization was not enough to prevent condensate system corrosion. Oftentimes, excessive air infiltration due to system design and mechanic...
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How Film-Forming Amines Work

  • Film-forming amines are long-chain fatty compounds that lay a microscopic film on surfaces and create a hydrophobic — or water-repelling — barrier. The hydrophobic layer covers the metallic surfaces in the treated system and provides a barrier between the system metallurgy and the water in the system — and all of its problem-causing impurities such as mineral salts, oxygen, ca…
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Impact on Water Usage, Offline Protection

  • Hundreds of real-world applications have shown that the boiler cycles of concentration can be increased when applying FFA-based boiler treatment. This reduces the amount of boiler water blowdown necessary to control boiler water concentration, which can lead to additional savings in fuel, water and treatment product usage. Certain film-forming amine formulations contribute les…
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Using Filming Amines in New Systems

  • In recent years, new construction has seen a rise in the installation of aluminum boilers and heat exchangers in heating systems. Aluminum has a much higher heat transfer ability than the steel-fabricated systems of previous designs; therefore, it is more efficient. Aluminum, however, tends to corrode over a pH of 8.5, and typical steel water treatment products will not protect these ass…
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