Mercury Removal of Fluctuating Ethane Feedstock in a Large Scale Production by Sulphur Impregnated Activated Carbon

- The removal of mercury from entering process area is the key to safeguard aluminum brazed heat exchanger and other critical equipment in the ethylene production plant from Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) and amalgam corrosion. Sulphur Impregnated Activated Carbon (SIAC) is the proven technology for mercury removal. However, currently there is no specific study conducted at fluctuating ethane feedstock to monitor its functionality and performance. This study is conducted at a large scale of aging ethylene plant without Ethylene Buffer Storage Tank (EBST) which results in fluctuating feedstock upstream of mercury removal vessel. Number of experiments and data gathering were done by observing current mercury level at various process stream to determine its performance before and after installation. Analysis performed at mercury removal vessel's outlet indicates consistent decrease in adsorption capacity with an increase of temperature. The fluctuation of ethane feedstock from 35,000 kg/hr to 71,000 kg/hr also results in less adsorption efficiency of SIAC.