The technology for production of gas sweetening solvents, so far exclusively possessed by a few major international companies, has been indigenized in Iran, Hamidreza Katouzian, head of the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry was quoted by Shana news agency as saying.
The RIPI official was addressing a ceremony where researchers unveiled a local gas sweetening technology, known as Parsisol, designed by Iranian experts. Sulfur is among the materials detached from gas components using Parsisol, reaching the standard needed to be injected to the national gas network. High absorption of acid and green house gases, little corrosion, low foam discharge, and low energy consumption are among the advantages of Parsisol solvents, the team of experts announced at the ceremony.
Iran needs relevant refining technology to make optimum use of its abundant natural gas resources. Sweetening units are among the key units in gas refineries, which mainly use amine solvents.
Gas sweetening is an important purification process, carried out to remove acidic contaminants from natural gas. This includes removal of H2S and CO2 from gas streams by using absorption technology and chemical solvents.
Iran needs 10,000 tons of the solvent annually. Domestic production of the solvent will save the country six billion rials ($225,000) per annum, and will dispense with the need to import the product.
