FlourCo in the United States was the first to use MDEA for desulfurization of natural gas. In the late 1940s, it strongly recommended the use of the MDEA method to remove H2S from natural gas. The feasibility of this method is proved by the pilot experiment in the laboratory and the factory. In the 1970s, Dow chemical Co in the United States carried out industrial application of methyldiethanolamine desulfurization. As a result, many American companies have begun to adopt this method. At present, there are about 10 sets of MDEA devices in operation. For example, in Iran, its Khangiran natural gas purification plant also uses the MDEA method for desulfurization. In Canada, the Burnt Timber natural gas purification plant has also carried out a transformation plan, using MDEA solution for desulfurization treatment. It is predicted that by 2020, its H2S content will be greatly reduced.
According to the data, the research on desulfurization of natural gas using MDEA method in my country began in Sichuan Province. Since 1981, Sichuan Natural Gas Research Institute has started industrial research on natural gas desulfurization using MDEA. The first industrial application of MDEA desulfurization device in Sichuan Province is the desulfurization device with a daily processing capacity of 25kNm3 completed in Dazhou, Sichuan. Since then, natural gas companies in many other places have started to learn to use this method for desulfurization, such as Youqu County Desulfurization Plant and Wanxian Desulfurization Plant. According to economic statistics, these enterprises can obtain more than 20 million yuan in economic benefits by using MDEA. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the industrial advantages of MDEA desulfurization have been gradually discovered, and now many enterprises are adopting this method. As of 2010, MDEA desulfurization devices have occupied a dominant position in our country, among the existing natural gas purification plants in our country. The decarbonization devices using MDEA occupy a dominant position, and there are as many as 44 sets of the total devices, accounting for 11/12. The total processing capacity reaches 96.10%. Mainly distributed in Sichuan, Chongqing and other provinces.
