Valorization of Oily Sludge in Arzew Refinery

Abstract

The sludge treatment is a difficult phase in the fight against pollution. Indeed the scrubber with a difficult problem was solved for many reasons: scarcity of land available for application and filing need sets requirements of the environment and public hygiene. Moreover the economic importance of this problem is illustrated by the importance of the cost both in investment and operating it can represent. Oily sludge with a significant calorific value which represents 90% of methane (CH4) can be considered as an interesting fuel. The impact related to its combustion in poor conditions can be important. The main objective of this study is to thermally treat oily sludge from the oil industry at the level of the RA1/Z refinery and then make a characterization of sludge by: X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to determine the mineralogical composition mass in the form of oxides, e.g., percentages (% SiO2, % CaO, % Fe2O3, % K2O, etc.). X-ray diffraction (XRD) for sentencing phases, for example, silica, crystalline, or amorphous. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) to determine functional groups, for example, O–H, C–H, C–Cl, Br–C, C–I, C–N, N–H, etc., and finally detection of heavy metals by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). This study is to determine the sources of heavy metals in industrial wastewater which predictably sludge quality. Several origins can be identified such as industrial activities. In a second part, we’re interested in studying the operating constraints due to the presence of the sludge contaminated as well as health and environmental risks. One is interested in identifying different Condit’s other than spreading agricultural.