Alcoholamine are a class of organic amine compounds containing both hydroxyl (-OH) and amino (-NH₂) functional groups. Owing to their highly efficient and selective absorption capacity for acidic gases such as CO₂ and H₂S, they have become key materials in industrial gas purification and find extensive application in fine chemicals and daily-use chemical products.
Their superior performance stems from the synergistic effect between the hydrophilicity and solubility conferred by the hydroxyl group and the alkalinity and reactivity provided by the amino group. This dual functionality renders them indispensable in industrial desulphurisation, decarbonisation, exhaust gas treatment, and chemical synthesis processes.
Alcoholamine solvents typically exhibit 2–3 times the chemical absorption capacity for acidic gases compared to physical solvents. They combine good water solubility, organic compatibility, and high regenerative reversibility, making them suitable for deep removal of high-concentration acidic gases with high recycling efficiency. However, their application faces several significant challenges: Firstly, the regeneration process relies on thermally driven chemical desorption, which is energy-intensive, accounting for 60–80% of the plant's total energy consumption and driving up operating costs; Secondly, their chemical stability is relatively poor; in the presence of impurities such as SO₂ and NOₓ, they readily undergo irreversible side reactions, generating degradation products that not only reduce absorption efficiency but may also cause equipment corrosion. Furthermore, crystallisation readily occurs under high-concentration or low-temperature conditions, limiting their application in cold environments.
Therefore, practical applications necessitate a comprehensive assessment of factors including specific gas composition, purification requirements, energy consumption constraints, and economic viability. This enables the rational selection of amine type and operating conditions to achieve an optimal balance between performance and cost.
