GB1118687A - Process for the recovery of amine from amine degradation products - Google Patents

Abstract

Amines, particularly alkanolamines, alkanolalkylamines, morpholines, and diglycolamines, are recovered from aqueous solutions comprising amines of pKb at 25 DEG C. of 3-14, their strong acid salts, and degradation products, notably formamides and oxazolidone derivatives, by contacting said solutions with an alkaline-reacting potassium compound, especially KOH or K3PO4, in such a quantity that phase separation into a purified amine-rich phase having less than 30% by weight of water, and an aqueous phase comprising potassium salt is achieved. The aqueous mixture to be purified is normally that resulting from the purification of gaseous mixtures containing acidic components, e.g. flue or refinery gases, and it may further contain an alkali-resistant physical solvent, e.g. sulpholane. The contacting step may be effected at a temperature of 15-200 DEG C., preferably 50-150 DEG C., and the amine-rich phase is normally after-treated either with a solid adsorbent, e.g. a clay, or with CO2 to reduce the potassium content.