Environmental impacts of amines and their degradation products: Current status and knowledge gaps

Many post combustion CO2 capture (PCCC) plants are designed to operate using amine-based solvents to remove CO2 from gaseous effluents. Although monoethanolamine (MEA) is the most commonly used solvent, an increasing range of other amines are being studied for potential use. Amines undergo degradation within the process, forming a variety of degradation products. Both amines and degradation products can be released into the environment in emissions from the plant, even if efforts are made to clean the emissions (e.g. water wash systems). In the environment, amines and process degradation products are subject to further degradation processes.