IP Library Granted Patent US 9,958,394
Granted Patent B2
US 9,958,394 · App. 15/677,813 · Granted May 1, 2018

Molecular enhanced based Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to detect low concentration of monoethanolamine

Inventors: Sankaran Murugesan (Katy, TX); Radhika Suresh (Sugar Land, TX); Darryl N. Ventura (Houston, TX); Bradley G. Harrell (Pearland, TX); Valery N. Khabashesku (Houston, TX); Qusai A. Darugar (Houston, TX)
Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
G01N21/65C10G29/00G01N33/2835C10G2300/202C10G2300/4075G01J3/02G01N21/658
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,958,394
App. No.
15/677,813
Granted
May 1, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for estimating a concentration of monoethanolamine (MEA) in a fluid. A substrate for supporting a sample of the fluid during testing includes a carbon nanotube mat layer, a silver nanowire layer disposed on the carbon nanotube mat layer, and a chemical enhancer layer disposed on the silver nanowire layer. A sample of the fluid is placed on the substrate, and the fluid sample is radiated with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level. A detector measures a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample in response to the electromagnetic radiation. A processor estimates the concentration of MEA in the sample from the Raman spectrum and adds a corrosion inhibitor to the fluid in an amount based on the estimated concentration of MEA to reduce the concentration of MEA in the fluid.

Claims (32)

1. A method of estimating a concentration of monoethanolamine (MEA) in a fluid, comprising:

placing a sample of the fluid on a substrate including:

a carbon nanotube mat layer,

a silver nanowire layer disposed on the carbon nanotube mat layer, and

a chemical enhancer layer disposed on the silver nanowire layer, wherein the fluid sample is placed on the chemical enhancer layer;

radiating the fluid sample with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level;

measuring a Raman spectrum emitted from the fluid sample in response to the electromagnetic radiation;

estimating the concentration of MEA in the sample fluid from the Raman spectrum; and

adding a corrosion inhibitor to the fluid in an amount based on the estimated concentration of MEA to reduce the concentration of MEA.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical enhancer layer includes a chemical having a thiol group for bonding to the silver nanowire layer and at least one of a carboxyl group and a boronyl group for bonding to the MEA.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical enhancer layer includes at least one of: 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA), 2-mercaptopyridine, 4-bromothiophenol, and 4-nitrothiophenol.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the chemical enhancer layer further includes gold nanoparticles, wherein the gold nanoparticles are in contact with the silver nanowires and the at least one of the 4-MBA, 2-mercaptopyridine, 4-bromothiophenol, and 4-nitrothiophenol is disposed on top of the gold nanoparticles.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein chemical enhancer layer includes gold nanoparticles.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a presence of MEA at concentration levels equal to or greater than about 50 part per billion.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is from a refinery, further comprising adding the corrosion inhibitor to the fluid to prevent corrosion in the refinery.

8. A system for estimating a concentration of monoethanolamine (MEA) in a fluid, comprising:

a source of electromagnetic radiation for radiating a sample of the fluid at a selected energy level;

a substrate for supporting the sample during testing, the substrate including:

a carbon nanotube mat layer,

a silver nanowire layer disposed on the carbon nanotube mat layer, and

a chemical enhancer layer disposed on the silver nanowire layer;

a detector configured to measure a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample in response to the electromagnetic radiation; and

a processor configured to:

estimate the concentration of MEA in the sample from the Raman spectrum, and

add a corrosion inhibitor to the fluid in an amount based on the estimated concentration of MEA to reduce the concentration of MEA in the fluid.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the chemical enhancer layer includes a chemical having a thiol group for bonding to the silver nanowire layer and at least one of a carboxyl and a boronyl group for bonding to the MEA.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the chemical enhancer layer includes at least one of: 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA), 2-mercaptopyridine, 4-bromothiophenol, and 4-nitrothiophenol.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the chemical enhancer layer further includes gold nanoparticles, wherein the gold nanoparticles are in contact with the silver nanowires and the at least one of the 4-MBA, 2-mercaptopyridine, 4-bromothiophenol, and 4-nitrothiophenol is disposed on top of the gold nanoparticles.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein chemical enhancer layer includes gold nanoparticles.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the chemical enhancer layer enables determining a presence of MEA at concentration levels equal to or greater than about 50 part per billion.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fluid is from a refinery, further comprising adding the corrosion inhibitor to the fluid to prevent corrosion in the refinery.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fluid is from one of: (i) a fluid passage at a downstream location of a completion process; (ii) a fluid passage at a downstream location of a crude wash process; and (iii) a fluid passage of an overhead tower of a petroleum refinery.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 23, 2018
From: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
To: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 045691/0917 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2017
From: MURUGESAN, SANKARAN; SURESH, RADHIKA; VENTURA, DARRYL N.; HARRELL, BRADLEY G.; KHABASHESKU, VALERY N.; DARUGAR, QUSAI A.
To: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 043304/0763 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 15143886 · May 2, 2016
Related Publication 20180024066A1 · Jan 25, 2018