An Assessment of Water Pollution from Refineries in the USA and Western Europe

Abstract

Refineries have significantly reduced their discharges of water pollutants during the last twenty years. Nevertheless, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Paris Convention, and other institutions in the USA and Europe are considering further emission constraints on refineries that cause water pollution. In a time when concepts such as "pollution prevention" and "clean technologies" confront the old overture of "end-of-pipe policies," we may ask how new controls should be approached. This article demonstrates that there are several questions regarding refineries which should be addressed as new actions are taken. Among these questions, some should target selected analytical parameters in use for the registration of pollutants in effluents, such as oil and organic substances. Other questions should approach the water soluble substances which we, somewhat surprisingly, find in refinery effluents. A case study indicates that a refinery has significant amounts of water soluble organic chemicals in effluents. These are alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, organic acids, mono- /polyamines and glycolesters. Through comparison of operations with other refineries this overall picture is assumed to be largely representative for many refineries in the USA and Western Europe. The overall refinery emissions are also likely to increase through technological changes associated with worldwide gasoline modification. A substanial amount of the water soluble components will not be captured in many wastewater treatment plants. Should these issues be reflected as new pollution reduction policies are forthcoming? Chemical analytical methods are among the premises of regulatory decision making when emission standards for refinery effluents are assumed. Water soluble chemicals are not inherently linked to refinery operations. Could some of the added chemicals be reformulated or eliminated? The redesign of a few reactors and inclusion of more closed loop operations would be steps toward the concepts of pollution prevention and clean technology -- in contrast to further end-of-pipe measures.