SULFINOL and SULFINOL-X

Would you like to remove H₂S, CO₂, COS and mercaptans in one single unit?

The SULFINOL-X solvent was designed to bring together the advantages of the Sulfinol hybrid solvent and accelerated methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) in a unique “best of both worlds” combination.

With SULFINOL-X, a single acid gas removal process can be used to treat a sour gas field. No additional units are required to treat mercaptans and COS in the treated gas from the acid gas recovery unit (AGRU).

The benefits?

A major reduction in equipment count, lower solvent rates and smaller equipment:

Features

• Faster CO₂ and COS removal through enhanced reaction kinetics;
• Quicker mercaptans removal through enhanced stability;
• Higher loading capacity, which reduces the solvent circulation rate and enables the use of smaller equipment;
• Lower steam requirement; in practice; 10–40% less energy is required to regenerate Sulfinol compared with aqueous amine;
• Lower hydrocarbon co-absorption through decreased solubility; and
• Reduced solvent degradation, with no reclamation required.

Additional Services

• The technology could come with a range of service offerings such as proactive monitoring, training and troubleshooting.
• A comprehensive solvent monitoring programme conducted by a Shell in-house laboratory is available: leverage operational experience to maintain solvent quality.

Shell’s experience 

More than 250 Sulfinol units designed and operated since 1964.

• Download the Sulfinol-X factsheet.
• Download the Sulfinol-M factsheet.
• Download the Switching to ADIP-X or Sulfinol-X factsheet. 
• Download the Amine solvent management programme factsheet. 
• Download the case study “Cost-effective integrated gas plant design.”
• Read the paper “Impacts of coabsorption hydrocarbon losses.”
• Read the paper “Unlocking the potential of existing gas-processing assets through solvent swaps”