Patent ID: 7758673

Claim:
A process for the removal of carbon dioxide from a gas stream containing carbon dioxide by washing the gas stream in an absorption zone having from 5-80 contacting trays with an aqueous washing solution, at an aqueous washing solution to gas ratio of between 2 and 6 (weight/weight), said aqueous washing solution containing between 20 and 45 parts by weight water, between 20 and 35 parts by weight sulfolane and between 40 and 55 parts by weight of an amine selected from the group of amines consisting of MEA, DEA, TEA, DIPA and MDEA, wherein the parts by weights are based on the amounts of water, sulfolane and amine together being 100 parts by weight, and, further, wherein the aqueous washing solution contains piperazine in an amount of from 0.7 mol/l to 0.9 mol/l, thereby obtaining an aqueous washing solution loaded with carbon dioxide, and a purified gas stream having a substantially reduced concentration of carbon dioxide, said carbon dioxide loaded aqueous washing solution being substantially free of insoluble carbamates.