A process for removing acid gases from a fluid stream, wherein the fluid stream is contacted with an absorbent comprising a compound of the general formula (I), wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl; R.sub.3 is selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl; x and y are integers from 2 to 4 and z is an integer from 1 to 3, to obtain a treated fluid stream and a laden absorbent. The process allows for a high cyclic capacity while the compounds of the absorbent have a reduced tendency to foaming and low volatility.

##STR00001##

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for the capture of at least one acid gas in a composition, the release of said gas from said composition, and the subsequent regeneration of said composition for re-use, said method comprising performing, in order, the steps of: (a) capturing the at least one acid gas by contacting said at least one gas with a capture composition comprising at least one salt of a carboxylic acid and at least one water-miscible non-aqueous solvent; (b) releasing said at least one acid gas by adding at least one protic solvent or agent to said composition; and (c) regenerating the capture composition by partial or complete removal of said added protic solvent or agent from said composition. Optionally, said capture composition comprising at least one salt of a carboxylic acid and at least one water-miscible non-aqueous solvent additionally comprises water or another protic solvent. In another aspect, the invention envisages a composition which additionally comprises at least one protic solvent or agent and release of the at least one acid gas is achieved solely by subjecting the composition to the application of heat or stripping with a stream of air. The method is typically applied to the capture and subsequent release of carbon dioxide, and offers a convenient and simple process which uses inexpensive consumables and offers significant advantages over the methods of the prior art.

Disclosed herein are methods of electrochemically enhanced amine-based CO.sub.2 capture and systems for performing the methods of amine-based CO.sub.2 capture. The present methods and systems advantageously may be carried out at ambient temperatures and allow for reusing the amine through multiple cycles.

A method of increasing the overall mass transfer rate of acid gas scrubbing solids is disclosed. Various catalyst compounds for that purpose are also disclosed.

A compound of the general formula (I) ##STR00001##
in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from C.sub.1-4-alkyl and C.sub.1-4-hydroxyalkyl; each R.sub.4 is independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1-4-alkyl and C.sub.1-4-hydroxyalkyl; each R.sub.5 is independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1-4-alkyl and C.sub.1-4-hydroxyalkyl; m is 2, 3, 4 or 5; n is 2, 3, 4 or 5; and o is an integer from 0 to 10. A preferred compound of the formula (I) is 2-(2-tert-butylaminoethoxy)ethylamine. Absorbents comprising a compound of the formula (I) have rapid absorption of carbon dioxide from fluid streams and are also suitable for processes for the simultaneous removal of H.sub.2S and CO.sub.2, where given H.sub.2S limits have to be observed but complete removal of CO.sub.2 is not required.

Solvent absorption processes for separating components of an impure feed gas are disclosed. The processes involve two stages of gas purification. The acid gases including hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and other sulfur compounds are simultaneously removed from the feed gas by contact with a physical solvent in two stages. The subject matter disclosed provides improved processes to reduce the operating costs of the system.

Solvent absorption processes for separating components of an impure feed gas are disclosed. The processes involve two stages of gas purification. The acid gases including hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and other sulfur compounds are simultaneously removed from the feed gas by contact with a physical solvent in two stages. The subject matter disclosed provide improved processes and apparatus to reduce the operating costs of the system.

A compound of the general formula (I)

##STR00001##

in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from C.sub.1-4-alkyl and C.sub.1-4-hydroxyalkyl; each R.sub.4 is independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1-4-alkyl and C.sub.1-4-hydroxyalkyl; each R.sub.5 is independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1-4-alkyl and C.sub.1-4-hydroxyalkyl; m is 2, 3, 4 or 5; n is 2, 3, 4 or 5; and o is an integer from 0 to 10. A preferred compound of the formula (I) is 2-(2-tert-butylaminoethoxy)ethylamine. Absorbents comprising a compound of the formula (I) have rapid absorption of carbon dioxide from fluid streams and are also suitable for processes for the simultaneous removal of H.sub.2S and CO.sub.2, where given H.sub.2S limits have to be observed but complete removal of CO.sub.2 is not required.

Disclosed is an improved process for regenerating solvent used to remove contaminants from a fluid stream. Said process comprises a solvent regeneration system (10) comprising a rich/lean solvent stripper column (29), reboiler (50), condenser (36), and reflux receiver (38) wherein the improvement is the location 46 of the condensed stripper gas return from the reflux receiver.

An amino-siloxane composition is presented. The amino-siloxane composition includes structure (I): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 is independently at each occurrence a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aliphatic radical; R.sup.2 is a C.sub.3-C.sub.4 aliphatic radical; R.sup.3 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aliphatic radical or R.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 comprises structure (II): ##STR00002##
and
X is an electron donating group. Methods of reducing an amount of carbon dioxide in a process stream using the amino-siloxane composition are also presented.