Current and future corrosion challenges for a reliable and sustainable development of the chemical, refinery, and petrochemical industries

Abstract

AbstractThe chemical, refinery, and petrochemical industries are facing new challenges in order to develop more environment friendly processes and to manufacture “green” products. Corrosion management is an essential element for the development of a sustainable industrial society, including issues such as the selection and development of corrosion resistant materials, coatings, and environment friendly inhibitors. In this paper, some specific challenges will be discussed. In the chemical industry, the replacement of volatile and toxic solvents by green ones such as supercritical water processes, ionic liquid, or the use of carbon dioxide as an alternative solvent, requires specific corrosion management policies. Another issue for the refinery industry concerns new feedstocks such as opportunity crudes containing corrosive naphthenic acids or the transformation of biomass feed into bio‐oils and biomaterials. Synthetic gas is also becoming a crucial intermediate in natural gas, coal or biomass to hydrocarbon liquids (XTL) processes. Other environmental aspects are the limitation of green house gas (GHG) release from the plants by implementation of CO2 capture processes and the environment friendly management of water including more restrictive steps concerning its disposal. The implementation of advanced inspection and corrosion control management is also a major element of progress for a sustainable development of the chemical, refinery, and petrochemical industries.