Editing Ethylene glycol (section)

====Hydrate inhibition====
Because of its high boiling point and affinity for water, ethylene glycol is a useful [[desiccant]]. Ethylene glycol is widely used to inhibit the formation of [[Methane clathrate|natural gas clathrates]] (hydrates) in long multiphase pipelines that convey natural gas from remote gas fields to a gas processing facility. Ethylene glycol can be recovered from the natural gas and reused as an inhibitor after purification treatment that removes water and inorganic salts.

Natural gas is dehydrated by ethylene glycol. In this application, ethylene glycol flows down from the top of a tower and meets a rising mixture of water vapor and [[hydrocarbon]] gases. Dry gas exits from the top of the tower. The glycol and water are separated, and the glycol recycled. Instead of removing water, ethylene glycol can also be used to depress the temperature at which [[hydrate]]s are formed. The purity of glycol used for hydrate suppression (monoethylene glycol) is typically around 80%, whereas the purity of glycol used for dehydration (triethylene glycol) is typically 95 to more than 99%. Moreover, the injection rate for hydrate suppression is much lower than the circulation rate in a [[glycol dehydration]] tower.