Atmospheric Degradation of Amines (ADA 2011)

The project examines potential environmental problems associated with emission of small volumes of amines/degradation products to air from CO₂ capture facilities. The primary objective is to identify and quantify gas phase degradation products from amines under atmospheric-like conditions, and the work also includes updating the models for atmospheric photo-oxidation of amines.

CLIMIT project “193438 Atmospheric Degradation of Amines (ADA)” examined atmospheric degradation of monoethanolamine (MEA). This work was continued in ”201604 Atmospheric Degradation of Amines (ADA 2010) ”, where atmospheric degradation of methyl, dimethyl and trimethylamines was examined. These substances may be bi-products in a CO₂ capture facility, and are consequently part of the emissions to air. A new group of amines is examined in this project: ethyl, diethyl and triethyl amine, as well as piperasine. Together with the results from ADA 2009 and ADA 2010, the studies of simpler amines will be complete, and can thus be used for so-called QSAR calculations, i.e. theoretical estimations of atmospheric degradation of other and more complex types of amines. Piperasine is a potential candidate for amine compounds to improve performance for the capture facility. It is therefore interesting to examine its potential impact on the environment. Project completion is expected in early 2012.