- 15 Tons Refinery Sludge
- 170,000 ppm distillates, paraffins & Benzene
- Benzene = ND, Flash Point >140·F, <20,000 ppm w/ 45 minute wash.
BRSI, in conjunction with BioGenesis Enterprises, performed a washing procedure for a major gulf coast refiner using BioGenesis BG-Clean 402. the material cleaned consisted of reformate tank bottoms which contained approximately 13 percent middle distillate oils and 4 percent paraffin. The tank bottoms also contained traces of benzene. The flash point of the material was less than 140·F, making it an ignitable hazardous waste. Approximately 15 tons of material were processed. The objective of the washing procedure was to raise the flash point of the tank bottoms to greater than 140·F and to eliminate the benzene residual.
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The tank bottoms were washed in a specially designed tank after which they were separated across a vibratory screen. The washed solids were rinsed with clean service water on the vibratory screen. Initially the wash water was raised to 150·F prior to addition of tank bottoms. However, the steam supply at the treatment location was inadequate so most of the washing was performed between 80 and 100·F. A one-hour heating, washing, oil removal and rinsing cycle was used. The recovered oil was disposed of in the refinery coking system.
The washing procedure consistently increased the flash point to greater than 140·F rendering the tank bottoms as non-hazardous with respect to ignitability. The reduction in the middle distillate oil and paraffin was measured at approximately 88 percent with a single washing cycle. The benzene levels in the washed tank bottoms were also reduced to concentrations below detection limit. Achieving the objective allowed the refinery staff to dispose of the material onsite, eliminating the need for transportation offsite and disposal by incineration.
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