Off-site disposal eliminated with wet air oxidation

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States)

OSTI ID:6165554

Starkey, J ^[1]; Bacchetti, J A

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1. Northern Petrochemical Co., Morris, IL

This article focuses on a solution to Northern Petrochemical's Morris, Ill. plant problem of the spent scrubbing solution from an acid gas scrubber being so high in caustic and organics that, if discharged to the in-plant biological waste treatment system, frequent pH upsets and COD overloads would occur. The off-site disposal method was expensive, and increasingly stringent standards for such methods could only cause further increases in cost and possible curtailment. Therefore, Northern Petrochemical wanted to provide an on-site disposal system fully under their own control. A host of treatment, recycle, and disposal methods were studied, including deep well disposal, chemical fixation, caustic recovery/recycle, and chemical oxidation. Wet air oxidation (WAO) was selected for detailed pilot tests because, in a single-train continuous process operation, the major problems associated with treating spent caustic were expected to be solved. The sulfides would be oxidized to soluble sulfate salts, the trace cyanides oxidized, and pH and COD reduced. This would be done without chemical addition or the generation of a sludge or waste by-product requiring off-site disposal. All waste caustic is now treated in the system, thus eliminating off-site disposal. Net savings for the first six months of operation have been $675,000--an annual rate of savings of $1.3 million.

• OSTI ID: 6165554
• Journal Information: Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States), Vol. 45:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
02 PETROLEUM
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
SCRUBBERS
CHEMICAL PLANTS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MANAGEMENT
PROCESSING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
020800 - Petroleum- Waste Management