Solutions containing alkanolamines
or amines are broadly used for
the removal of acidic compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from natural gas flows. In
this study, the surface tension of three binary mixtures containing
monoethanolamine (MEA) and alcohol (methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol)
and three ternary systems containing MEA, water, and alcohol (methanol,
ethanol, or isopropanol) were determined in the whole composition
range at 303.15 K and ambient pressure by means of the Du Noüy
ring method. From these data, the composition dependence of the surface
tension (σ) and surface tension deviation (Δσ) of
binary mixtures was correlated using the FLW equation (proposed by
Fu et al.) and the MS equation (proposed by Myers and Scott), respectively.
Then, the surface tension data of three ternary mixtures were correlated
with a polynomial based on the Scatchard model. Also, the surface
tension data of three ternary mixtures were predicted based on the
FLW model. The results show a good agreement between the predicted
and measured values, as well as the applicability of the FLW model
in these ternary mixtures. Finally, the isoline curves of surface
tension and surface tension deviation versus mole fraction of components
for the ternary mixtures are plotted and discussed.