# Selexol

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{{Short description|Solvent for Acid Gas Removal}}
'''Selexol''' is the trade name for an [acid gas removal](/source/Amine_gas_treating) solvent that can separate [acid gas](/source/acid_gas)es such as [hydrogen sulfide](/source/hydrogen_sulfide) and [carbon dioxide](/source/carbon_dioxide) from feed gas streams such as [synthesis gas](/source/synthesis_gas) produced by [gasification](/source/gasification) of coal, coke, or heavy [hydrocarbon](/source/hydrocarbon) oils.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kohl, A |author2=Nielsen, R. |name-list-style=amp |title=Gas Purification|edition=Fifth|publisher=Gulf Publishing Company|year=1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/14356007.o12_o02 |chapter=Gas Production, 3. Gas Treating |title=Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry |date=2011 |last1=Boll |first1=Walter |last2=Hochgesand |first2=Gerhard |last3=Higman |first3=Christopher |last4=Supp |first4=Emil |last5=Kalteier |first5=Peter |last6=Müller |first6=Wolf-Dieter |last7=Kriebel |first7=Manfred |last8=Schlichting |first8=Holger |last9=Tanz |first9=Heiner |isbn=978-3-527-30385-4 }}</ref>  By doing so, the feed gas is made more suitable (less [sour](/source/sour_gas)) for [combustion](/source/combustion) and/or further processing. It is made up of dimethyl ethers of polyethylene glycol.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=M. Ajhar |author2=M. Travesset |author3=S. Yüce |author4=T. Melin | title = Siloxane removal from landfill and digester gas – A technology overview | year = 2010 | journal = [Bioresource Technology](/source/Bioresource_Technology) | volume = 101 |issue=9 |pages = 2913–2923 | doi= 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.12.018|pmid=20061140 |bibcode=2010BiTec.101.2913A }}</ref>

==Process description==

In the Selexol process (now licensed by [UOP LLC](/source/UOP_LLC)), the Selexol solvent dissolves (absorbs) the [acid gas](/source/acid_gas)es from the feed gas at relatively high pressure, usually 300 to 2000 psia (2.07 to 13.8 MPa).  The rich solvent containing the acid gases is then let down in pressure and/or steam stripped to release and recover the acid gases. The Selexol process can operate selectively to recover [hydrogen sulfide](/source/hydrogen_sulfide) and [carbon dioxide](/source/carbon_dioxide) as separate streams, so that the hydrogen sulfide can be sent to either a [Claus](/source/Claus_process) unit for conversion to elemental [sulfur](/source/sulfur) or to a [wet sulfuric acid process](/source/wet_sulfuric_acid_process) unit for conversion to [sulfuric acid](/source/sulfuric_acid) while, at the same time, the carbon dioxide can be [sequestered](/source/Carbon_capture_and_storage) or used for [enhanced oil recovery](/source/enhanced_oil_recovery). The Selexol process is similar to the [Rectisol](/source/Rectisol) process, which uses refrigerated [methanol](/source/methanol) as the solvent. The Selexol solvent is a mixture of the [dimethyl ether](/source/dimethyl_ether)s of [polyethylene glycol](/source/polyethylene_glycol).

Selexol is a physical solvent, unlike [amine based acid gas removal](/source/Amine_gas_treater) solvents that rely on a chemical reaction with the acid gases. Since no chemical reactions are involved, Selexol usually requires less energy than the amine based processes. However, at feed gas pressures below about 300 psia (2.07 MPa), the Selexol solvent capacity (in amount of acid gas absorbed per volume of solvent) is reduced and the amine based processes will usually be superior.

==See also==
*[Hydrodesulfurization](/source/Hydrodesulfurization)
*[Rectisol](/source/Rectisol)
*[Amine treating](/source/Amine_treating)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.uop.com/?document=uop-selexol-technology-for-acid-gas-removal&download=1 Selexol Process]

Category:Chemical processes
Category:Acid gas control
Category:Natural gas
Category:Oil refining
Category:Glycol ethers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Selexol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selexol) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selexol?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.