Determination of the amount of wash amines and ammonium ion in desulfurization products of process gases and results of related studies

This paper describes a method for the determination of the so-called wash amines and their degradation products, including ammonium ions, in process liquids and wastewater generated during the desulfurization of hydrogen sulfide gas in the process of crude oil refining and also reports the results of related studies. Ion-exchange liquid chromatography employing an inexpensive cation-exchange HPLC column and refractometric detection was used. The results obtained were compared with those obtained by potentiometric titration. Analytical characteristics and a description of the developed procedure are provided. Examples of the results of routine determinations of amines, their degradation products and ammonium ions in process liquids and wastewater are given.