Refinery Wastewater Operations: Challenges Created from the Processing of Opportunity Crudes

Experience has shown that low molecular weight volatile organic acids play a role in both filamentous and non-filamentous bulking events in refinery wastewater systems. The work presented here tracks the progression of these acids as they go through the various primary and secondary systems of a refinery. This work also identifies a method that can easily be implemented at refineries to track the amount of volatile organic acids entering the waste treatment system. The results collected, along with microscopic observations of the activated sludge suggests a method to predict potential sludge bulking. The work presented here also suggests a method to identify which crudes have the highest potential to increase volatile organic acid loading to the wastewater system.