Development of resource-saving technology for solid waste disposal of industrial gas dehumidifiers of petrochemical enterprises in the process of producing urethane rubbers

Abstract

Currently, environmental issues are receiving much attention. Considering the fact that several of the largest oil refining and petrochemical enterprises in Russia are concentrated in the Republic of Tatarstan, the improvement of the environmental situation near industrial territories is very important. Previously, the authors of the article investigated the possibility of using wastes of industrial gas dehumidifiers (silica gel and aluminum oxide) as fillers for urethane rubbers of the SKU-OM and SKU-PFL types, both cold and hot cured. Studies have shown that the introduction of silica gel in the injection composition of SKU-OM and SKU-PFL is possible up to 20% of the mass without deterioration of physical and mechanical properties, and spent alumina can be introduced into SKU-OM up to 50% of the mass, which is absolutely not typical for this type of rubber. Thus, the strength properties remain at the level of unfilled analogues, the oil and gas resistance of the compositions increase. Based on these studies, the authors proposed three flowcharts of technological processes, the first of which is a generalized scheme for converting silica gel and alumina waste into secondary material resources, or, basically, into fillers for polymer and rubber mixtures. The second and third schemes are improved flowcharts for the production of injection molded urethane rubbers hot cured (scheme 2) and cold cured (scheme 3). Both schemes can be implemented at enterprises for the production of injection molding polyurethanes, as well as at oil refineries. Economic calculations showed a reduction in the cost of the final polyurethane product by 29% in the case of used silica gel, and by 9% when filling polyurethane with aluminum oxide waste.