Amine Emission Monitoring in CCS

The IONICON PTR-TOF analyzer measures emissions of amines and amine degradation products in real-time down to ppt levels.

Introduction and Background

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a crucial technology for reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to mitigate global warming. Among the various CCS techniques that are currently being tested, amine-based post-combustion CO₂ capture is the most mature solution. However, the use of amine solvents for scrubbing CO₂ from flue gases results in the emission of amines and their degradation products into the atmosphere. This poses environmental and health risks. Accurate monitoring of these emissions is vital to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and to optimize CCS processes.

Proton-Transfer-Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (PTR-TOFMS) is a powerful tool for monitoring amine emissions in real-time down to ppt levels. This application note describes the use of IONICON PTR-TOF analyzers in monitoring trace levels of amines and their degradation products in flue gas.

Amine-based CO2 capture

In amine-based CCS, CO₂ is chemically absorbed by aqueous amine solutions, such as monoethanolamine (MEA), 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) or piperazine (PZ). The capture of CO₂ results in emissions of amines and degradation products such as ammonia, aldehydes, and nitrosamines. Such emissions must be carefully monitored to mitigate environmental and health risks.