Processes and systems for discharging amine byproducts formed in an amine-based solvent

Abstract

Embodiments of a process for discharging amine byproducts formed in an amine-based solvent are provided. The process comprises the steps of contacting the amine-based solvent with flue gas comprising carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, NO x , SO x , or mixtures thereof to form a carbon dioxide-laden amine-based solvent that contains the amine byproducts. Carbon dioxide is separated from the carbon dioxide-laden amine-based solvent to form a carbon dioxide-depleted amine-based solvent. The amine byproducts from the carbon dioxide-depleted amine-based solvent are fed to an algae source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for discharging amine byproducts formed in an amine-based solvent, the system comprising:
 a carbon dioxide absorber unit configured to contact the amine-based solvent with flue gas comprising carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, NO x , SO x , or mixtures thereof to form a carbon dioxide-laden amine-based solvent that contains the amine byproducts;   a stripper unit in fluid communication with the carbon dioxide absorber unit and configured to separate carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide-laden amine-based solvent to form a carbon dioxide-depleted amine-based solvent; and   an algae source that receives the amine byproducts from the carbon dioxide-depleted amine-based solvent.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the amine-based solvent comprises an amine selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, piperazine, diisopropanolamine, triethanolamine, 2-amino,2-methyl,1-propanol, diamines, methyldiethanolamine, tertiary amines, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the amine byproducts comprise compounds selected from the group consisting of nitrogen-based compounds, bicine, amino acids, amine salts, sulfur-based compounds, thiosulfates, dithiocarbanates, thioureas, polysulfides, and mixtures thereof 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reclaimer unit that receives the carbon dioxide-depleted amine-based solvent and is configured to separate the amine byproducts from the carbon dioxide-depleted amine-based solvent to form a regenerated amine-based solvent and an amine byproducts effluent. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the algae source is in fluid communication with the reclaimer unit to receive the amine byproducts effluent. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the reclaimer unit is in fluid communication with the stripper unit to receive the carbon dioxide-depleted amine-based solvent. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the carbon dioxide absorber unit is in fluid communication with the reclaimer unit to receive the regenerated amine-based solvent. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 4 , further comprising a carbon dioxide feed and an amine byproducts feed that is separate from the carbon dioxide feed, the carbon dioxide feed configured to fluidly communicate carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide absorber unit to the algae source, and the amine byproducts feed configured to fluidly communicate the amine byproducts effluent to the algae source. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power plant configured to burn carbonaceous fuel to generate power and the flue gas, and wherein the carbon dioxide absorber unit is in fluid communication with the power plant to receive the flue gas. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the algae source comprises algae, water, and bacteria, and wherein the bacteria is effective to convert at least a portion of the amine byproducts to nutrients for the algae.