(400a) Carbon Capture Technology and Natural Gas Treatment

Removal of heavy hydrocarbons (C8+ HHCs) and aromatic (BTX) components from natural gas prior to liquefaction is critical for continuous LNG production. BASF has developed a new, step-change technology that allows for the combined removal of heavy hydrocarbons, aromatics, and water to cryogenic specifications in a single temperature swing adsorption unit to provide treated natural gas for liquefaction. Development of this technology required innovative bed designs to avoid pre-mature molecular sieve degradation, product development to achieve increased BTX capacity, and improved simulation tools for increased model accuracy. Several experiments were designed to prove the molecular sieve could withstand the short cycle times required for removal of HHCs and BTX. These experiments, including the rational behind the innovative bed designs, will be discussed in this paper. Finally, the process of new material development, involving Production, R&D, and Business functions, will be explained.