BTEX and other VOC emissions from a natural gas amine treater. Topical report, February 1996

The report presents the results of a laboratory and field study conducted under Gas Research Institute (GRI) sponsorship to measure the pickup and distribution of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) to the various internal process and emssion streams in a commercial amine treater used to remove acid gas compounds (primarily hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide) from natural gas. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate an analytical technique for quantifying in diethanolamine (DEA) solutions. The accuracy and precision of the technique as well a method detection limit study were carried out. In the field study, samples of the inlet natural gas, flash gas, and regenerator vent gas, lean amine, and rich amine from various locations downstream of the absorber were collected and analyzed. The results were used to determine regenerator vent emission rates and the distribution of BTEX and other VOC around the flash tank.