Although it is generally believed that Fe, Cr and Ni content in alkanolamine gas treating solutions reflects the corrosivity of the solution, we have found that this is not necessarily the case. Comparison of metals volubility by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) with carbon steel and stainless steel weight loss coupons of various alkanolamines heated in an autoclave showed that low metals volubility does not
necessarily mean low coupon corrosivity. High metals volubility also did not necessarily mean high coupon corrosivity. One plant having very high metals volubility was found to have very low corrosion upon a thorough plant inspection. Another plant had severe localized corrosion that could not have been predicted based upon the low (200ppm) Fe in the alkanolamine compared to the total surface area of carbon steel in this plant. Keywords: alkanolamine, corrosion, gas treating, metals volubility