Advanced Effluent Treatment Solutions for the Refinery Industry
Transform complex refinery wastewater streams into sustainable water assets through WTT's integrated treatment technologies and specialized solutions.
Critical Challenges in Refinery Wastewater Management
Complex multi-stream effluents, fluctuating compositions, and stringent regulations demand specialized treatment approaches for sustainable refinery operations.
Complex Multi-Stream Effluent
Desalter effluent (400-1000 mg L⁻¹ COD, up to 1000 mg L⁻¹ free hydrocarbons), sour water (300-12,000 ppm H₂S, 100-8,000 ppm NH₃), spent caustic, cooling tower blowdown, tank bottom draws requiring specialized treatment approaches.
Fluctuating Influent Quality
Variation in feedstock characteristics and production schedules lead to sudden shifts in wastewater composition, requiring adaptive treatment systems to maintain consistent performance.
Stringent Discharge Regulations
Stripped sour water targets H₂S < 10 ppm (often < 1 ppm), NH₃ < 100 ppm (often < 30 ppm), phenol up to 200 ppm with strict environmental compliance requirements.
Water Reuse Mandates
Regulatory and operational priority requiring advanced systems to meet stringent quality standards for reuse in boiler feed, cooling, and process applications.
High-Temperature Streams
Desalter effluent up to 300°F, sour water stripper overhead > 80°C to avoid ammonium bisulfide salt formation, requiring specialized heat-resistant treatment systems.
Operational Safety Concerns
Toxic H₂S evolution, handling of non-regenerable spent caustic, oil-water emulsion stability in desalters requiring intrinsically safe treatment approaches.
WTT Integrated Treatment Approach – Deep Technical View
Comprehensive treatment train designed specifically for complex refinery wastewater streams with guaranteed performance parameters.
| Process Stage | Core Design Features | Operating Window | Guaranteed KPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotary Brush Screener | Removes large solids, debris from incoming wastewater | Multiple stream handling | Protects downstream equipment from damage |
| API Separator | Three-phase separation (oil, water, solids) with continuous skimming and scraping | Gravity separation, handles high oil content | Free hydrocarbon removal, sludge handling |
| Dissolved Air Flotation | Nano-bubble generation, mechanical scraping, effective TSS & O&G removal | Compact footprint design | TSS and O&G load reduction for biological treatment |
| Equalization & Neutralization | Flow/pollutant load balancing, automated pH control | Handles fluctuating refinery compositions | Stable feed to biological systems |
| Biological Oxidation System | Micro-organisms metabolize organic compounds, aerated biological tank with DO control | Extended aeration for refinery loads | Efficient organic load reduction, controlled sludge handling |
| Membrane Bio-Reactor | Ceramic MBR with robust, long-lasting membranes | Compact & modular design | Consistent high-quality treated water, minimal maintenance |
| Membrane Filtration Systems | MF, UF, NF, RO technologies for progressive purification | Tailored to specific separation needs | Up to 99% dissolved salts removal (RO), selective ion removal |
| Sour Water Treatment | Steam stripping systems for H₂S and NH₃ removal | Steam rate 60-300 kg steam/m³ feed | H₂S < 1-10 ppm, NH₃ < 30-100 ppm |
| Spent Caustic Treatment | Medium pressure WAO technology operating ~13 barg, ~500°F | COD 10,000-100,000 mg L⁻¹ feed | Toxicity reduction, odor control, regulatory compliance |
| Utility Water Treatment | Custom-engineered systems for boiler feed, cooling, process water | Suspended solids removal, pH balancing | Consistent water quality, equipment protection |
Advanced Refinery Treatment Solutions
Specialized technologies designed for complex refinery wastewater streams with guaranteed performance parameters and operational excellence.
Sour Water Stripping
Steam stripping systems operating 110-450 kPa with overhead > 80°C for H₂S and NH₃ removal from distillation units.
H₂S < 1 ppm, NH₃ < 30 ppm
Spent Caustic WAO
Medium pressure WAO technology operating ~13 barg, ~500°F for COD reduction and toxicity control in caustic treating systems.
COD 10,000-100,000 mg/L feed
Ceramic MBR
Robust ceramic membranes with 10+ year life, resistant to fouling and minimal maintenance for consistent high-quality treated water.
Flux 22-30 LMH @ 35°C
Multi-Stream Integration
Integrated approach handling desalter effluent, sour water, spent caustic, and cooling tower blowdown in complete treatment trains.
Complete treatment trains
Treatment Process Flow & Application Nodes
Integrated treatment chain optimized for multiple refinery wastewater streams with specialized recovery systems.
Specialized Refinery Services
Comprehensive suite of specialized treatment services designed for the unique challenges of refinery wastewater management.
Process Water Treatment
Handles crude desalting effluent, cooling tower blowdown, tank bottom draws, process unit effluents with specialized separation technologies.
Sour Water Treatment
Steam stripping systems operating 110-450 kPa, overhead > 80°C, post-stripping biological polishing for H₂S and NH₃ removal.
Spent Caustic Treatment
Medium pressure WAO technology, neutralization systems, intrinsically safer than high-pressure alternatives for COD reduction.
Utility Water Treatment
Custom systems for boiler feedwater, cooling tower makeup, process water conditioning with ion exchange and RO technologies.
Sanitary Water Treatment
MBR technology with UV disinfection for domestic wastewater, pathogen-free reusable effluent for non-potable applications.
API Separator Systems
Three-phase separation with continuous oil skimming and sludge removal, handling high oil loads typical in refinery streams.
Why WTT Outperforms Conventional Refinery Treatment
Advanced integrated approach delivering superior performance across all critical refinery treatment parameters.
| Metric | WTT | Conventional Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-stream handling | Integrated approach | Single-stream focused |
| Sour water stripping | H₂S < 1 ppm, NH₃ < 30 ppm | H₂S < 10 ppm, NH₃ < 100 ppm |
| Spent caustic treatment | Medium pressure WAO (13 barg) | High pressure (>25 barg) or disposal |
| Membrane durability | Ceramic 10+ years | Polymeric 3-5 years |
| System integration | Complete treatment trains | Individual unit focus |
| Automation level | Full SCADA, DO control | Manual/limited |
| Reuse capability | Multiple quality grades | Single effluent quality |
Detailed Frequently Asked Questions
Comprehensive answers to technical questions about refinery wastewater treatment processes and technologies.
Ready to Transform Your Refinery Wastewater Management?
Our refinery specialists will conduct a no-cost multi-stream effluent assessment and deliver a performance-guaranteed proposal.
WTT – engineering certainty in compliance, cost, and circularity for the global refining industry.