Removal of Selenium in Refinery Effluent with Adsorption Media

As new selenium analytical methods lower the detection limits, industries with selenium in their wastewaters are being required to meet more stringent discharge limits. The refining of crude oil containing sulfur typically results in wastewater selenium (Se) concentrations above state and federal guidelines. Sorbster™ media, a functionalized alumina adsorption media, has demonstrated the capability to remove selenium in water streams to below these detection limits.In this study, selenium was removed from various refinery effluent waters, in field applications, and at the source point stripper sour water. In addition, this single pass treatment option also removed vanadium, arsenic, mercury, barium, etc.