Structured Packing Evaluation in Sour Gases Treatment from Kiln Emissions

The burning of pieces manufactured with clays to be used in the construction industry, contributes to environmental imbalance because it contains combustible materials that produce emissions released in the atmosphere. Up to now kilns have been used with combustion processes precarious and fuels highly polluting, which favor climate change emissions for CO2, NOx and acid rain by SOx, endangering the health of those living near these facilities. The treatment of combustion gases by means of a packed absorption column with a high efficiency liquid-gas contactor reduces pollutant emissions to the atmosphere, when combustion gases are in contact with aqueous amine solution of Mono Ethanol Amine (MEA). The objective of this work is to study which one of three materials presents the lowest deterioration in the presence of combustion gases with MEA. The materials were tested according to American Society for Testing Materials ASTM G31-2004 corrosion testing, and the procedure NRF-194 PEMEX-2007. The properties studied were tensile strength, hardness and elastic modulus, before and after structured packing materials were in contact with combustion gases in MEA aqueous solution. The results showed that in acid and basic medium, the metallic material was the most resistant to abrasion; it has the major tensile strength, and presented more resistance in the stress test.