Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Monoethanolamine (scrubber)

["Rob Carlson" <rob.carlson@verizon.net>]

MEA is used by the US Navy for the scrubbers.  Since military submarines are
nuclear powered the power to supply the heating part is easy to come by - a
little more challenging on a PSUB where battery power is at a premium.

- Rob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nathanael Henderson" <jude@pconline.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 1:31 PM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Monoethanolamine (scrubber)


>
> On Thu, 8 Mar 2001, Eliezer Rodriguez wrote:
>
> > I was investigating about the different co2 absorbers available, when my
> > cousin who used to be in the navy told me that on submarines, CO2 is
removed
> > with a chemical scrubber, called monoethanolamine(MEA). MEA is supplied
in
> > liquid form, although it may be a solid dissolved in water. When cold,
MEA
> > takes in CO2, when heated, MEA gives up the CO2. Once used the CO2 is
pumped
> > overboard. Does anyone has heard about this process?
>
>      Interesting....   Quick check with a lab company gives a price of
> $370 for 18 liters, quite a bit more per liter for smaller ammounts.  The
> catalog says 'restricted'...I assume that means it's considered hazardous
> materials for shipping, etc. This could be a very interesting item for
> long-term submersion vessels (or even just to save a little bit of money
> on consumeables for heavily used subs.)    The catch is the stuff looks
> like it's a little unpleasent to work with...MSDS describes it as having
> an ammonia like smell, and being a strong corrosive.   A liquid scrubber
> system would be more difficult to build and maintain as well, but the idea
> of a scrubber you can just throw in the oven to regenerate has it's
> appeal.  :-)
>
>
>
> 'Than  (Advocate of bad ideas.)
> Surf the probability curve.
>