Catalyst Adsorbent System for Refinery Waste Oxidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oil refinery waste materials with high alkali, sulfide, and mercaptan content are difficult to treat due to their non-biodegradability and toxicity, which leads to high treatment costs and environmental hazards, as conventional catalysts are ineffective and prone to dissolution and sintering under high pH conditions.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage cyclic oxidation process using a catalyst/adsorbent system with varying volumetric ratios and surface modification with inorganic acid, allowing for efficient degradation without dilution or neutralization, reducing the activation energy and extending catalyst life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional catalysts are used for treating high pH refinery waste, then the treatment process can proceed, but the catalyst dissolves and sinters under high pH conditions, reducing effectiveness and increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the catalyst's physical and chemical properties to withstand high pH conditions. Specifically, the catalyst is treated with silane coupling agents and surfactants to alter its surface characteristics, preventing dissolution and sintering while maintaining catalytic activity in alkaline environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials by combining the base catalyst (such as alumina or silica-based materials) with protective coatings of silane coupling agents and surfactants. This composite structure provides both the catalytic function and resistance to high pH-induced degradation, solving the reliability issue without sacrificing effectiveness.
2Productivity
If high pressure and temperature are applied to treat non-biodegradable waste, then degradation efficiency improves, but the energy consumption and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal system (high pressure and temperature) with a chemical system (enhanced catalyst). The modified catalyst enables effective degradation at lower temperatures and pressures by providing alternative reaction pathways with lower activation energy, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining high degradation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters from extreme conditions (high P and T) to milder conditions (lower P and T) by introducing the enhanced catalyst. The catalyst's modified surface properties enable it to function effectively at reduced temperatures and pressures, achieving the same productivity with lower energy input.
3Ease of operation
If the waste material is diluted or neutralized before treatment, then the treatment process becomes easier, but additional treatment steps and chemicals are required, increasing overall cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic high pH characteristic from the waste stream by using a catalyst specifically designed to resist alkaline conditions. Instead of neutralizing the waste (which would require additional chemicals and steps), the catalyst is selected and modified to tolerate and function in the high pH environment, eliminating the need for preliminary neutralization steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies self-service by using a catalyst that inherently resists dissolution and sintering in high pH conditions without requiring external modification or preparation of the waste stream. The catalyst's built-in resistance to alkaline degradation allows it to function directly in the raw waste material, eliminating the need for additional treatment steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process effectively reduces the chemical oxygen demand of the waste materials, making them suitable for biological treatment plants without the need for neutralization, thus lowering treatment costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The organic components of wastewater may be treated by oxidation. The organic compounds of simple household and communal wastewater flows are utilized by microbiological colonies as an energy source. Under suitable conditions - dissolved oxygen and nutrient contents, temperature; pH and the like - contaminants are broken down into carbon-dioxide and water in a cascade of biochemical reactions by microorganisms.
Implementation Method 2
The said refinery wastewater is non-biodegradable, i.e. the COD: BOD ratio approaches infinity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a process for the disposal treatment of persistent, oil refinery waste material flows, which are difficult to degrade under oxidative conditions, by way of performing a continuous, cyclic oxidation disposal treatment in air or oxygen atmosphere in the presence of known oxidation catalysts and known adsorbent, characterized in that the disposal treatment is carried out in at least two degradation stages, wherein the catalyst/adsorbent volumetric ratio (v/v) in an isolated or separate first reactor is between 0:1 and 1:1 in the first degradation stage and the catalyst/adsorbent volumetric ratio (v/v) in an isolated or separate second reactor is between 1:0 and 1:02 in the second degradation stage; and wherein the surface of the adsorbent : catalyst mixture is modified with a 3-50 fold amount of a 0.1-10 N inorganic acid prior to degradation; and wherein degradation is carried out at a pressure of 10-80 bar, at a temperature of 150-280°C, with a space velocity of 0.4-3.6 1/h and at a waste/oxygen ratio (v/v) of 5-500; and wherein optionally the material effluent of the acidic modification is reintroduced into the material flow to be treated.