Refineries are among the major consumers of water that has both process and non-process origins. The average refinery requires 2.5 gallons of water for every gallon of crude oil processed. Depending on the type of crude oil, composition of condensate and treatment processes, the characteristics of refinery wastewater varies widely. The design and operation of modern refinery wastewater treatment plants are challenging and are driven by technology. This article will highlight the most common types of waste streams in a refinery and suitable wastewater treatment strategies.

In the northeastern corner of Alberta, nestled among the expanses of forests and wetlands, lies a major freshwater dilemma that Canada is currently facing. The reuse of water for oil extraction causes tailings ponds to accumulate higher and higher concentrations of harmful contaminants. As such, the water in these tailings ponds is dangerous, and often lethal, to birds, fish, frogs, and plants.

In the oil and gas industry, regulations and requirements to measure, monitor and report flared gases continue to expand and extend. The U.S. EPA continues to focus on enhancing regulations aimed at reducing emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment.

The fuels that propel modern society have been found in water supplies all over the world. Some fuel-related contaminants can be found at a majority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) National Priority List Sites, where they pose a potential threat to human and environmental health.

Crude oil is a fossil fuel formed from long-dead organisms subjected to intense heat and pressure underground. This resource is the main ingredient in the production of gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricants, kerosene, propane, and asphalt. All of these products can be made in a single refinery through a complex branching series of chemical processes. The central refining process is atmospheric distillation whereby the crude oil is fractured into different components based on their differing boiling points. Each of these fractions will be sent along to separate process to be turned into the different oil products. Therefore, remediation of refinery wastewater from these different processes can be quite complex.

Major multinational food and drink processing company requested support to validate the performance of existing electromagnetic flow meters, that were failure-prone, in their water treatment plants. 

Most Australian food waste ends up in landfill. Rotting in the absence of oxygen produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. While some facilities capture this “landfill gas” to produce energy, or burn it off to release carbon dioxide instead, it’s a major contributor to climate change. Valuable resources such as water and nutrients are also wasted.

Valley Pride Pack wanted to reduce the operational costs associated with their wastewater treatment system.

This is the second in a series of articles and case studies examining the emergence of sustainably-driven innovation within the wastewater treatment functions of the food and beverage industry as sustainability and production issues intersect and influence how companies manage their wastewater.

At Schreiber Foods' wastewater treatment plant in Utah, mineral acids had been used for pH control in the past but were discontinued due to safety and handling issues. Facility owners desired a safer, more cost-effective solution that would provide automatic control over process pH levels. 

This paper shows how the four pillars of operator effectiveness lead operators to greater awareness, faster response and better decisions.

Resources being a scarce commodity, it’s incumbent upon us to optimize the use of water and energy as best we can. While conservation is the prime course of action for the public, the best solution for utilities may be to work smarter — by having the water-energy nexus work for us instead of against us.

AES Gener is the second generating company in Chile and the main thermoelectric generator, and provides 4.068 MW (including Guacolda S.A.), equivalent to a share of 22%, whereas 3.797 MW of thermoelectric capacity and 271 MW of hydroelectric capacity.

At my household, a new year means a new energy and water-use baseline. By that I mean, every month, I look at how much electricity and water I used in comparison to the same month the previous year — so I can try to be as efficient as possible. But I work in the energy field, and I know that’s not a typical New Year’s tradition. Most people don’t examine the trends of their energy-use or spend much time thinking about how to reduce it.

Global demand for power and water is accelerating — and the Middle East is no exception. A burgeoning population combined with multiple industrial diversification programs is fueling a boom in power and water projects. During the first three quarters of 2017, about US$30 billion of major power contracts and US$20 billion of water projects were awarded across the region. In 2018, the figure is looking more like $60 billion with the two sectors combined.

An environmental study made headlines this spring as it drew a distinct parallel between the growing PPCP epidemic and a poisonous disinfection byproduct (DBP) making its way into drinking water.

Refineries are among the major consumers of water that has both process and non-process origins. The average refinery requires 2.5 gallons of water for every gallon of crude oil processed. Depending on the type of crude oil, composition of condensate and treatment processes, the characteristics of refinery wastewater varies widely. The design and operation of modern refinery wastewater treatment plants are challenging and are driven by technology. This article will highlight the most common types of waste streams in a refinery and suitable wastewater treatment strategies.

In the northeastern corner of Alberta, nestled among the expanses of forests and wetlands, lies a major freshwater dilemma that Canada is currently facing. The reuse of water for oil extraction causes tailings ponds to accumulate higher and higher concentrations of harmful contaminants. As such, the water in these tailings ponds is dangerous, and often lethal, to birds, fish, frogs, and plants.

The Gold King Mine disaster foretells what’s in store for the mine sites tagged by Superfund during the 1980s — that still aren’t finished. This is a plan for the U.S. EPA to stay out of this business and address this Western dilemma without federal funding or lawsuits.

Major multinational food and drink processing company requested support to validate the performance of existing electromagnetic flow meters, that were failure-prone, in their water treatment plants. 

Most Australian food waste ends up in landfill. Rotting in the absence of oxygen produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. While some facilities capture this “landfill gas” to produce energy, or burn it off to release carbon dioxide instead, it’s a major contributor to climate change. Valuable resources such as water and nutrients are also wasted.

Valley Pride Pack wanted to reduce the operational costs associated with their wastewater treatment system.

Electromagnetic meters have increasingly become the instrument of choice for municipal utility and industrial water measurement applications where highly accurate flow measurement is critical. Also known as mag meters, these devices contain no moving parts, so they are both reliable and virtually maintenance-free. However, if a mag meter’s liner is torn or delaminates, it can lead to serious problems and major expenses.

In the oil and gas industry, regulations and requirements to measure, monitor and report flared gases continue to expand and extend. The U.S. EPA continues to focus on enhancing regulations aimed at reducing emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment.

The fuels that propel modern society have been found in water supplies all over the world. Some fuel-related contaminants can be found at a majority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) National Priority List Sites, where they pose a potential threat to human and environmental health.