Natural Gas Processing

Nitrogen Rejection Methods From Natural Gas

Prepared by: Faraydwn Farsat Hakim

Chemical/Process Engineer

Faraydwn Farsat Hakim

faraydwn.farsat1001zp@gmail.com
 ‫»شعو ُر اإلنسان جبهله‪ ،‬ضر ٌب من ضرو ِب‬
‫املعرفة«‬
‫(ابن خلدون)‬

‫‪"Sensing one's ignorance is a‬‬

‫"‪form of knowledge‬‬

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Introduction
The Nitrogen Rejection Method (NRM) refers to the processes used to remove nitrogen from
natural gas, enhancing its quality and energy content. Natural gas typically consists of methane
(CH₄) along with other components, including nitrogen (N₂), which is an inert gas that does not
contribute to the energy value of the gas. Nitrogen is often found in varying concentrations in
natural gas fields, and when present in high amounts, it dilutes the methane content, reducing the
heating value and making the gas less suitable for industrial applications or as a fuel source. The
primary objective of nitrogen rejection is to selectively remove nitrogen while preserving the
methane content, ensuring that the gas meets the desired specifications for pipeline transportation,
industrial use, or liquefaction. After nitrogen is removed from natural gas, it can be recovered and
utilized in various applications. Nitrogen gas, in its pure form, is valuable in industries such as oil
and gas, food processing, electronics manufacturing, and chemical production. It is widely used as
an inert atmosphere for preventing oxidation, purging systems, and in pressurized systems for
various processes. Additionally, nitrogen is crucial for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations
and can be used in the production of fertilizers and as a cryogenic agent in some industrial
processes. To achieve nitrogen rejection, several methods can be employed, including cryogenic
distillation, membrane separation, absorption, and pressure swing adsorption (PSA). Cryogenic
distillation relies on the difference in boiling points between methane and nitrogen, separating the
two gases by cooling the mixture to a point where nitrogen condenses. Membrane separation uses
selective polymeric membranes to allow nitrogen to permeate faster than methane, thus separating
the two gases. Absorption involves using a solvent to selectively absorb nitrogen, while PSA uses
adsorbent materials to capture nitrogen under high pressure. The method chosen depends on factors
like nitrogen concentration, flow rate, and cost-effectiveness. Once nitrogen is removed, it can be
recovered for reuse, making the nitrogen rejection process not only crucial for upgrading natural
gas but also valuable in recovering a useful industrial gas.

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 1. Nitrogen removal from natural gas by cryogenic distillation

Cryogenic distillation is a widely used method for removing nitrogen from natural gas to improve
its quality and heating value. The process cools the gas to very low temperatures, separating
nitrogen and methane based on their boiling points. In a distillation column, nitrogen is removed
as an overhead product, while high-purity methane is collected at the bottom. This method is
especially effective for gas streams with high nitrogen content and is commonly used in large-
scale natural gas processing.

Figure 1. Nitrogen removal from natural gas by cryogenic distillation

1. At first, the natural gas feed containing nitrogen goes to a demethanizer in a conventional
turboexpander plant. The gas from the demethanizer overhead is then cooled through heat
exchange and pressure reduction.
2. Next, the cooled gas is fed into a high-pressure distillation column operating at 200 psig
(14 barg). In this column, the separation process begins, with the bottoms product being
reduced in pressure to cool it to -240°F (-151°C).
3. After that, the cooled bottom product from the high-pressure column is combined with the
bottom product from the low-pressure column. This combined stream is fed to a heat
exchanger at the top of the high-pressure column to provide the necessary reflux.

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 4. Then, the overhead product from the high-pressure column flows through three heat
exchangers. The pressure of this stream is reduced to approximately 15 psig (1 barg), and
it enters the low-pressure column at -300°F (-184°C).
5. The separation process continues in the low-pressure column. The overhead product from
this column is 98% nitrogen, which is removed from the system. The bottom product is
approximately 98% methane, which is the desired product.
6. Finally, the process ensures that the nitrogen content in the natural gas is reduced to meet
sales-gas specifications. For example, at the Hannibal Gas Plant, the nitrogen content is
reduced from 16.9% to 6.5%, making the gas suitable for commercial use.

2. Nitrogen Removal from Natural Gas by Absorption Techniques

Natural gas is a crucial energy resource, but it often contains nitrogen impurities that reduce its
heating value and make it unsuitable for pipeline transport or commercial use. Removing nitrogen
is essential to meet quality standards and maximize energy potential. Absorption-based processes
have emerged as efficient and cost-effective methods for nitrogen rejection. In this process, natural
gas is mixed with a liquid solvent, such as virgin naphtha, under specific temperature and pressure
conditions. The solvent absorbs methane and light hydrocarbons, while nitrogen remains in the gas
phase due to its lower solubility, enabling effective separation. The absorbed hydrocarbons are
later released in a desorption step by adjusting temperature and pressure, and the solvent is

recycled, making the process sustainable.

Figure 2. Nitrogen Rejection by Absorption

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1. At first, natural gas is fed to the pre-treatment unit to remove impurities such as humidity,
heavier hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This ensures the gas is
clean and ready for further processing.

2. Next, the pre-treated natural gas is fed to the base of the absorption column. At the same
time, virgin naphtha (a liquid solvent) is introduced at the top of the column. Inside the
column, methane and other light hydrocarbons are selectively absorbed into the virgin
naphtha at room temperature and high pressure (60-80 bar).

3. After absorption, the nitrogen-rich gas exits from the top of the absorption column. This
gas stream, which is mostly nitrogen, is then expanded and cooled before being sent to a
gas-liquid separator.

4. In the gas-liquid separator, any entrained virgin naphtha is separated from the nitrogen-rich
gas. The separated liquid is sent to a reflux system for the desorption column, while the
nitrogen-rich gas is discharged after heat exchange for energy recovery.

5. Meanwhile, the liquid mixture of virgin naphtha and absorbed hydrocarbons (mainly
methane) is collected at the bottom of the absorption column. This mixture is then fed to
the desorption column for regeneration.

6. In the desorption column, the absorbed hydrocarbons are released from the virgin naphtha
at high temperatures (150-200°C) and medium pressure (10-25 bar). The regenerated virgin
naphtha is cooled and recycled back to the absorption column for reuse.

7. The gas stream exiting the top of the desorption column, which consists mainly of methane
with a small amount of nitrogen (less than 10% molar), is cooled and sent to another
gasliquid separator. The separated methane-rich gas is then sent into a distribution network
as the final product.

8. To maintain the system's efficiency, a purge system is used to remove excess hydrocarbons
that accumulate in the virgin naphtha. This ensures a constant flow rate of virgin naphtha
in the cycle.

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 9. Finally, the purge gas, which still contains some heating value, is recovered and used as
fuel gas to reduce the plant's overall energy requirements.

3. Nitrogen removal from natural gas by pressure swing adsorption

Natural gas often contains nitrogen impurities that lower its heating value, making it unsuitable for
commercial use and pipeline transport. Traditional separation methods, such as cryogenic
distillation and membrane technology, can be inefficient or require high energy input. Pressure
Swing Adsorption (PSA) is a cost-effective alternative that selectively captures nitrogen while
allowing methane to pass through as a purified product. This process operates in cycles, switching
between adsorption and desorption by adjusting pressure. More advanced PSA systems use a two-
stage process, first eliminating hydrocarbons before targeting nitrogen, maximizing methane
recovery while reducing energy consumption.

Figure 3. Nitrogen Removal from Natural Gas by Pressure Swing Adsorption

1. The raw natural gas enters the first pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit containing a
hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent & This adsorbent traps hydrocarbon (such as methane and
heavier components) while allowing nitrogen to pass through.
2. The product stream from this first PSA unit is a nitrogen-enriched gas with reduced
hydrocarbon content & The retained hydrocarbons will later be recovered and returned to
the gas stream.

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 3. The nitrogen-rich gas from the first PSA unit is fed into a second pressure swing adsorption
(PSA) unit containing a nitrogen-selective adsorbent Here, the adsorbent traps nitrogen,
allowing a purified methane-rich stream to pass through.
4. The product stream from the second PSA unit is a methane-rich natural gas with reduced
nitrogen concentration, making it suitable for pipeline transport or further use.

5. The purified gas from the second PSA unit is used to desorb the hydrocarbons from the
first PSA unit. This process recovers hydrocarbons and adds them back to the final product
stream, ensuring no valuable components are lost.
6. To improve the adsorption capacity of the nitrogen-selective adsorbent, it is periodically
heated using a heated product stream from the second PSA unit. This step enhances the
efficiency of nitrogen removal by regenerating the adsorbent more effectively.
7. The final purified natural gas stream (methane-rich) exits the system, ready for commercial
use. The waste nitrogen-rich gas is removed and discharged appropriately.

4. Nitrogen removal from natural gas by Membrane

Membrane-based nitrogen rejection emerges as a promising alternative to traditional methods like
cryogenic distillation or pressure swing adsorption. This technology leverages selective
permeation, where gases separate based on their permeability through a membrane material. The
driving force is the partial pressure difference across the membrane, typically achieved by applying
high pressure to the feed stream. Membrane systems offer advantages such as compact design,
operational simplicity, and lower capital costs, particularly beneficial for remote or small-scale
operations. However, challenges include mitigating methane loss and improving selectivity,
driving research into novel materials like mixed-matrix or facilitated transport membranes.
cryogenic methods remain prevalent for large-scale operations, membranes are gaining traction in
niche applications due to their scalability and minimal energy requirements. Ongoing
advancements aim to optimize performance, positioning membrane technology as a versatile
solution in the evolving landscape of natural gas processing.

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 Figure 4. Separating N2 from natural gas by use of membranes.

1. The low-pressure gas (10% N₂) enters a compressor to increase its pressure, Compression
is necessary to improve the efficiency of membrane separation
2. The compressed gas then enters a separator, where condensate (liquid hydrocarbons and
water) is removed.This step prevents liquid contamination in the membrane modules,
ensuring effective gas separation
3. The dry gas enters the first membrane module, where partial nitrogen separation occurs.
The retentate (methane-rich gas) moves forward in the process.The permeate (nitrogen-
rich gas) contains 10–15% N₂, and a portion of this is recycled back to the feed stream
4. The methane-rich retentate from the first membrane enters a second membrane module for
further nitrogen removal. This step ensures that the final pipeline gas meets quality
standards.
5. The second membrane module produces two gas streams:
o Pipeline gas (<4% N₂): This high-quality gas meets pipeline specifications and is
sent for distribution.
o Fuel gas (50% N₂): The nitrogen-rich gas is used as fuel gas for internal energy
needs or flared, depending on the facility's operations.

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References

1. Carugati, A., Gambarotta, E., & Pollesel, P. (2005). Nitrogen rejection by absorption with
field condensate. GTI–Natural Gas Technologies.
2. Eni S.p.A. & Enitecnologie S.p.A. (2002). Process for the removal of nitrogen from natural
gas. U.S. Patent No. US6444012B1.
3. Faulkner, L. L. (2006). Fundamentals of natural gas processing mechanical
engineering. Mech. Eng., 418.
4. Lokhandwala, K. A., Pinnau, I., He, Z., Amo, K. D., DaCosta, A. R., Wijmans, J. G., &
Baker, R. W. (2010). Membrane separation of nitrogen from natural gas: A case study from
membrane synthesis to commercial deployment. Journal of Membrane Science, 346(2),
270–279.