Extensive investigations by our Lab Research &Development Center determined the physical root cause of foaming at a new Gas Sweetening Plant in 1992 was the contaminants such as oil, grease, iron oxides and sulfides in the DGA (Diglycol Amine) scrubbing solution. To avoid a similar foaming problem at another new Gas Plant in 1997 a modified Citrosolve process was developed for pre-commission cleaning. During cleaning the chemistry of the solution was modified by adding different chemicals to effect successful removal of oil, grease, and oxides of iron and passivate the steel in contact with DGA. The system pumps, re-boilers and on line monitoring instruments were used to circulate, heat and control the solvent cleaning operation without the damaging effects of corrosion. When the new plant started up with a fresh DGA solution foam testing indicated no contaminants from the system and the
plant was successfully commissioned on time. This modified process was also used to perform pre-operational cleaning of two new DGA plants in 1998 and 1999. The paper will discuss the modifications to the Citrosolve cleaning process to minimize water volume, and other benefits that resulted from the cleaning.