Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies, processes that usually involved alcohol amines, are utilized by power plants to reduce their carbon footprint. Although this process seems environmentally sustainable; this process can lead to the release of alcohol amines into our atmosphere. Research on other amines has shown that some yield harmful products when reacted with oxidants in our atmosphere. The environmental and health effects of alcohol amines, however, are unknown. As CSS practices have increased in popularity, so has the presence of alcohol amines in the environment. Experiments were conducted to observe the products when alcohol amines were exposed to atmospheric pollutants. Alcohol amines monoethanolamine (MEA) and dimethylamine (DMA) were selected in addition to atmospheric pollutants ozone, the nitrate radical, and the hydroxide radical. An environmental chamber was used to house the experiments and allow them to react in a controlled environment. Utilizing an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), the identity of compounds could be determined. Ion chromatography assisted in pinpointing the possible reaction products between the alcohol amines and oxidants. The products include ammonium, methylamines, ethylamines, butylamine, and trimethylamine-n-oxide picrate. In addition, a particle-into-liquid sampler coupled with dual ion chromatographs (PILS-IC), was utilized to deduce the concentration of water-soluble ions produced and identified in the reaction. The site of the chamber and experiments held is located at the University of California, Riverside, College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (UCR CE-CERT). The results of the experiments will discern the possible dangers created by the release of these alcohol amines.

Analyzing reactions of MEA and DMA and atmospheric oxidants

251st National Meeting (2016)

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