Treatability of Refinery and Petrochemical Wastes

Abstract The characteristics of wastewaters from petrochemical plants and refineries vary petrochemical plants and refineries vary considerably. Both the quantity and quality may fluctuate significantly within a plant and, between similar facilities, the difference may be even greater. This paper describes methods of characterizing refinery and petrochemical waste-waters, provides a sequential approach to the development of design data, and describes some design relationships. Introduction The refining and petrochemical industries are among the largest water users in the United States. However, water conservation measures combined with process modifications and in-plant control practices have resulted in decreased water requirements within both industries. The production of petrochemicals, which are defined as those chemicals which originate either totally or in part from petroleum, natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gases, increased five-fold during the period of 1945 to 1960 in 1955 the total production of petrochemicals constituted 24 percent by weight of the total chemical production; and, it is estimated that in 1970 the total production was 41 percent. Estimates indicate that about 500 new petroleum products are introduced to the petroleum products are introduced to the market every year and there is little doubt that the industry will continue to grow and diversify. It is axiomatic that pollutants discharged from the petroleum industries will increase proportionally and that adequate facilities proportionally and that adequate facilities must be provided to preclude any harmful effects from wastewater effluents. The successful treatment of wastewaters discharged from refineries and petrochemical plants is predicated on many factors and plants is predicated on many factors and while it is recognized that each industry poses its individual problems, there is a poses its individual problems, there is a logical approach to selecting efficient treatment processes.