Pilot System for Refinery Wastewater Treatment

A refinery was preparing for new wastewater discharge limits that would require more consistent hydrocarbon removal. Although the refinery had historically maintained compliance with the existing limits most of the time, occasional hydrocarbon spikes in the wastewater reached up to 25 ppm.

To help ensure consistent compliance with the new discharge requirements, the refinery contacted an environmental service company to develop a treatment system. The environmental service company worked with Hydrosil to incorporate HS-250-AC into the system to reduce hydrocarbon concentrations to less than 1 ppm.

The resulting system included a particulate filter followed by HS-250-AC and was used as a permanent treatment modification while the refinery worked toward process improvements that would reduce hydrocarbon concentrations at the source.

Industry Type: Refinery

Pollutants: Hydrocarbons, Particulates, Oil

Media Used: HS-250-AC

The Challenge: Meeting New Wastewater Discharge Limits

The refinery was facing new wastewater discharge limits and needed a way to maintain compliance consistently. While the facility generally operated below the new limits, occasional spikes in hydrocarbon concentrations reached up to 25 ppm.

Because these intermittent spikes could create compliance concerns, the refinery sought a treatment solution that could provide additional hydrocarbon removal before the wastewater was discharged.

Adding Hydrocarbon Filtration

The environmental service company contacted Hydrosil to develop a system using HS-250-AC for additional hydrocarbon removal.

The treatment system consisted of a particulate filter followed by HS-250-AC. The particulate filter provided pretreatment, while HS-250-AC was incorporated to target hydrocarbons in the wastewater that cannot be removed with a particulate filter

The system was designed to reduce hydrocarbon concentrations to less than 1 ppm, providing an additional treatment step to help the refinery consistently meet its discharge requirements.

A Temporary Solution for Consistent Treatment

The treatment system provided the refinery with a way to address intermittent hydrocarbon spikes while longer-term process improvements were being considered.

The system is being used as a permanent modification until the refinery can make process changes designed to improve its overall wastewater discharge concentrations. This approach allowed the facility to add treatment capacity while continuing to work toward a process-based solution.

Supporting Wastewater Treatment at Refineries

This application demonstrates how supplemental treatment can help facilities address intermittent contaminant spikes and prepare for tighter wastewater discharge requirements.

For refineries and other industrial facilities managing hydrocarbons in wastewater, Hydrosil can help evaluate the application and identify an appropriate filtration media solution.