Pilot study on a physical process for treating petrochemical wastewater.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Petrochemical wastewater presents challenges due to high oil, suspended solids (SS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD).
• Traditional treatment methods are energy-intensive, costly, and generate hazardous waste and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• There is a critical need for efficient, green physical processes to replace conventional chemical treatments for petrochemical sewage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a new physical process for treating petrochemical wastewater.
• To assess the efficiency of the proposed process in reducing key pollutants.
• To compare the environmental and economic benefits against traditional treatment methods.

Main Methods:

• A novel physical process was developed and implemented for sideline testing at a petrochemical refinery.
• Effluent quality parameters including oil, SS, and COD were measured post-treatment.
• Cost, carbon emissions, energy consumption, and waste generation were quantified and compared.

Main Results:

• The physical process reduced average effluent oil to 8.9 mg/L, SS to 14.25 mg/L, and COD to 252 mg/L.
• Significant reductions were achieved in costs (61.71%), carbon emissions (71.9%), and required floor space (85%).
• The process minimized waste scum and VOC emissions, consuming low energy without chemical pollution.

Conclusions:

• The developed physical process offers an efficient and green solution for petrochemical wastewater treatment.
• It meets stringent effluent standards for entry into biochemical systems.
• This technology aligns with carbon neutrality goals by reducing environmental impact and operational costs.