Industrial wastewater reuse in inter-plant water networks

Abstract

This work aims to use a Process Integration method to extend a methodology that involves the selection of water reuse networks among industrial processes. A case study from data representative of an oil refinery and a petrochemical complex was carried out. The results with the inter-plant water networks indicated external sources that can be used for the unidirectional reutilization of the water processes from the refining to the petrochemical. Refining processes with maximum reuse had a 39% reduction in relation to the original consumption, while petrochemicals reduced by around 36%. The scenario involving the integration of both plants, with the incorporation of a distribution central tank and a regenerative process, reached a complementary reduction of about 7% of the water catchment. This integration allows the achievement of new opportunities for reuse, making it an important strategy in environmental decision making in organizations.