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Aghayee R, Khani M, Ostovarpour F, Shanbehbazari MSA, Shafiei M, Gharibi M, Mohammadhosseini B, Shokri B. Plasma pyrolysis feasibility study of Spent Caustic waste to hydrogen production. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2024; 22:197-208. [PMID: 38887774 PMCID: PMC11180047 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-023-00886-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Spent caustic is a used industrial caustic whose chemical content puts it in the special waste category. The disposal of this waste and the production of value-added products from it has attracted the attention of researchers not only to solve environmental problems but also to take advantage of its byproducts. This research has experimentally proved the transferred thermal plasma technology as a practical method feasible for the disposal of spent caustic. In this study, the applied voltage, electrical current, and feed rate are variable parameters, and others are kept constant. GC analysis showed H2 as the main product, which is environmentally beneficial. The percentage of hydrogen production of approximately 74% is a promising result, considering the difficulty of achieving such a high percentage of hydrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasoul Aghayee
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti, University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, 19839-63113 Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Khani
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti, University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, 19839-63113 Iran
| | - Farzaneh Ostovarpour
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti, University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, 19839-63113 Iran
| | | | - Mojtaba Shafiei
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti, University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, 19839-63113 Iran
| | - Mahtab Gharibi
- Petrochemical Research and Technology Company, National Petrochemical Company, No. 27, Sarv Alley, Shirazi-C, P.O. Box 14358-84711, Mollasadra, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Babak Shokri
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti, University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, 19839-63113 Iran
- Department of Physics, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C. Evin, 19839-63113 Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
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Kou Y, Yang B, Jiang J, Sun H, Zhang R, Li Z, Wang Q, Shi Q, Chen C. Characteristics of dissolved organic matter in point-source wastewaters at a petrochemical plant: Molecular constituents and contributions to the influent of wastewater treatment plant. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117157. [PMID: 37726030 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in point-source petrochemical wastewaters (PCWs) from different operating units is closely linked to the efficiency of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). However, systematic studies on DOM characters of point-source PCWs and their influences on WWTP influents were seldom conducted. In this study, DOM in three low-salinity point-source PCWs and four high-salinity point-source PCWs at a typical petrochemical plant were comprehensively characterized at a molecular level. Orbitrap mass spectrometry results indicated that point-source PCWs had diverse DOM constituents tightly related to the corresponding petrochemical processes. Phenols in oily wastewaters (OW), phenols and N-containing compounds in coal partial oxidation wastewater (POXW), and naphthenic acids (NAs) and aromatic acids in crude oil electric desalting unit wastewater (EDW) were characteristic DOM constituents for low-salinity point-source PCWs. While S-containing compounds (mercaptans, thiophenes) and NAs in spent caustic liquors (SCL), alcohols and esters in butanol-octanol plant wastewater (BOW), high molecular weight aromatic ketones in phenol-acetone plant wastewater (PAW), and oxygenated NAs as well as short chain N-containing compounds in concentrate from reverse osmosis unit (ROC) were characteristic DOM constituents for high-salinity point-source PCWs. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that though with relative low pollutant contents (OW) and discharge volume (EDW), N/O/S-containing compounds of OW and EDW greatly contributed to the polar DOM constituents of low-salinity influent in WWTP (R > 0.5, P < 0.001). While N-containing compounds of ROC mainly contributed to the polar DOM of high-salinity influent (R > 0.5, P < 0.001). Though N-/S-containing species in PAW had low contents, they also posed obvious impacts on DOM constituents of high-salinity influent. Interestingly, some O-/S-containing species were newly formed during the confluent process of high-salinity point-source PCWs. The results strengthened the combined contributions of pollutants contents, discharge emission and DOM constituents of point-source PCWs to the water matrix of WWTP influents, which would provide reference for the management of PCW streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China.
| | - Baiyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Juntao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - He Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Zhuoyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China.
| | - Qinghong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Quan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Chunmao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China
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Narayan Thorat B, Kumar Sonwani R. Current technologies and future perspectives for the treatment of complex petroleum refinery wastewater: A review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 355:127263. [PMID: 35526717 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Petroleum refinery wastewater (PRW) is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, sulphides, ammonia, oils, suspended and dissolved solids, and heavy metals. As these pollutants are toxic and recalcitrant, it is essential to address the above issue with efficient, economical, and eco-friendly technologies. In this review, initially, an overview of the characteristics of wastewater discharged from different petroleum refinery units is discussed. Further, various pre-treatment and post-treatment strategies for complex PRW are introduced. A segregated approach has been proposed to treat the crude desalting, sour, spent caustic, and oily wastewater of petroleum refineries. The combined systems (e.g., ozonation + moving bed biofilm reactor and photocatalysis + packed bed biofilm reactor) for the treatment of low biodegradability index wastewater (BOD5/COD < 0.2) were discussed to construct a perspective map and implement the proposed system efficiently. The economic, toxicity, and biodegradability aspects are also introduced, along with research gaps and future scope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhaskar Narayan Thorat
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai-Indian Oil Odisha Campus, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751013, India
| | - Ravi Kumar Sonwani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai-Indian Oil Odisha Campus, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751013, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003, India.
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Rita AI, Nabais AR, Neves LA, Huertas R, Santos M, Madeira LM, Sanches S. Assessment of the Potential of Using Nanofiltration Polymeric and Ceramic Membranes to Treat Refinery Spent Caustic Effluents. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12010098. [PMID: 35054624 PMCID: PMC8779506 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12010098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Spent caustic effluents are very challenging due to their very hazardous nature in terms of toxicity as well as their extreme pH (approximately 12–14). Spent caustic has presented a challenge for wastewater treatment in refineries, due to its composition rich in mercaptans, sulfides and other aromatic compounds. To address such problems, membrane filtration was studied using real effluents from Sines Refinery, in Portugal. The present study attempts to assess the potential for spent caustic treatment with nanofiltration (NF) polymeric and ceramic membranes, assessing membrane life expectancy. For that, membrane aging studies in static mode were performed with the polymeric membrane before attempting NF treatment (dynamic studies). A ceramic membrane was also tested for the first time with this type of effluents, though only in dynamic mode. Although the polymeric membrane performance was very good and in accordance with previous studies, its lifespan was very reduced after 6 weeks of contact with spent caustic, compromising its use in an industrial unit. Contrarily to expectations, the ceramic membrane tested was not chemically more resistant than the polymeric one upon direct contact with spent caustic (loss of retention capacity in less than 1 h in contact with the spent caustic). The results obtained suggest that a pH of 13.9 is very aggressive, even for ceramic membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Rita
- Sines Refinery, Petrogal S.A., 7520-952 Sines, Portugal; (A.I.R.); (M.S.)
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Chemistry Department, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (A.R.N.); (L.A.N.); (R.H.)
| | - Ana Rita Nabais
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Chemistry Department, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (A.R.N.); (L.A.N.); (R.H.)
| | - Luisa A. Neves
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Chemistry Department, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (A.R.N.); (L.A.N.); (R.H.)
| | - Rosa Huertas
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Chemistry Department, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (A.R.N.); (L.A.N.); (R.H.)
- IBET-Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Maria Santos
- Sines Refinery, Petrogal S.A., 7520-952 Sines, Portugal; (A.I.R.); (M.S.)
| | - Luis M. Madeira
- LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Sandra Sanches
- IBET-Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Rita AI, Monteiro AL, Albuquerque RM, Santos M, Ribeiro JC, Madeira LM, Sanches S. Unravelling the relation between processed crude oils and the composition of spent caustic effluents as well as the respective economic impact. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 421:126629. [PMID: 34315020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Spent caustic discharges are responsible for increasing oil and grease (O&G) matter in refineries wastewater, leading to increasing treatment costs due to low water quality and environmental constraints associated with high O&G concentration discharges. As a way to settle and optimize treatment technologies for such complex effluents, more insight regarding the effluents impact and deeper characterization is necessary. The present study intends to assess the possibility of a relationship between the processed crude oils with the polar O&G concentration in naphthenic spent caustic as well as in the final wastewater; Sines refinery was considered as case-study. Also, in order to get insights about the nature of the polar O&G compounds, their structures and their prevalence in the effluent treatment system was carried out through detailed analytical characterization studies. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were chosen. It was found that, for the Sines refinery, spent caustic discharges may increase the refinery effluent management cost up to 3 €/ton of processed crude oil, every time a high kerosene cut acid crude oil is processed. It was also found that the typical spent caustic O&G effluents are composed by organic contaminants with low molecular weight (MW), with aromatic and polar arrangements, like phenolic groups and naphthenic acids. This outcome is crucial for subsequently establishing the best technologies able to deal with such complex effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- A I Rita
- Sines Refinery, Petrogal S.A., 7520-952 Sines, Portugal; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; LAQV, REQUIMTE, Chemistry Department, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
| | - A L Monteiro
- Matosinhos Refinery, Petrogal S.A., Rua Boa Nova - Leça Palmeira 4450 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - R M Albuquerque
- Matosinhos Refinery, Petrogal S.A., Rua Boa Nova - Leça Palmeira 4450 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - M Santos
- Sines Refinery, Petrogal S.A., 7520-952 Sines, Portugal.
| | - J C Ribeiro
- Matosinhos Refinery, Petrogal S.A., Rua Boa Nova - Leça Palmeira 4450 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - L M Madeira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - S Sanches
- IBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
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