Amine effect on Distillation

[paulspoon]

Hello,
We currently recover both Acetone and Methanol (different campaigns) in a solvent recovery unit using direct injection steam to the distillation column. We are now considering adding Amines to the steam in order to help prevent corrosion of pipe work. My question is, does anyone know if & how adding Amines will effect the distillation column or the MeOH & Ac recovered?
Thanks

 

[hanon]

Amines are a greater promoter of salt deposition in distillation column. They creates a huge amount of dirty in the trays and many times the columns over a period of time is completely flooded as consequence of these deposits

I don´t kwon exactly your case, maybe amines in this case don´t become solid inside the tower (but anyway way is a external product that will deposit in any other place), it depends on their vaporization and sublimation point if they are reached inside the column to create a solid deposit. But as a first sight I don´t recomend using amines.

It is better to control de pH in the steam around 8.0 as an effective way to prevent corrosion. The pH is fairly important in keeping away the corrosion in steam and condensates lines. Also be sure of eliminating de CO2 (which creates H2CO3 acid) and the solved oxigen with a desaerator to eliminate corrosión. Thses are maybe the points you should attack first.

 

[epoisses]

My favourite theory is that for every additive injected you create at least one new problem somewhere downstream.
First of all, would amine injection be acceptable from product quality point of view?
I would rather tend to consider taking the harmful components out. What is causing the corrosion exactly, carboxylic acids? How about putting an ion exchange resin bed in?