New Strategies for dealing with Tramp Amines in Desalter Operation

Tramp amines are a growing issue for the refining industry. They impact desalter performance, increase the potential for overhead corrosion, decrease neutralizer effectiveness and increase loadings on the wastewater treatment plant. Levels as low as 5 ppm of certain tramp amines can have a dramatic impact on salt points and associated corrosion in the atmospheric section.

A new class of adjunct chemistry has been identified that works in combination with emulsion breakers to mitigate the impact of tramp amines on desalter performance. The new chemistry allows the refiner greater flexibility in the selection of opportunity crudes as well as an option to potentially avoid capital investment in desalting asset upgrades. This presentation describes the innovation and presents case histories on performance in the field.