Kaduna Refinery Research Articles

The Efficiency of Lemna minor L. in the Phytoremediation of Romi Stream: A Case Study of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company Polluted Stream

Abstract The study involved a laboratory experiment on the use of Lemna minor L.in the phytoremediation of a stream polluted by waste water from Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company. The physiochemical characteristics of the waste water were determined before and after the treatment. The experiment lasted for three weeks and the rate of reduction was recorded. The highest rate of mean reduction were for heavy metals accounting 99.6%, 93.3%, 99.3%, 94.3%, 100% and 95.4% of Cd, Hg, Zn, Mn, Pb and Ag respectively. Other physiochemical parameters include Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 81.3%, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 91.6%, Nitrate 93.3%, Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD) 68%, Conductivity 50.3%, Total suspended Solids (TSS) 77.3%, Turbidity 85%, 81% Total Solids (TS) and the pH were increase from 6.29 to 7.7.Lemna minor L. is a suitable candidate for effective phytoremediation of water from Romi stream. Key words: Efficiency, Lemna minor L. Phytoremediation, Romi Stream

Computer Modeling of Platinum Reforming Reactors

Usually, the reformate that is leaving any stage of the platinum reforming reactors in terms of hydrocarbon composition is assessed by laboratory analysis. The ideal composition can only be tested through theoretical means, which in most cases is avoided because of long computation time involved. This paper, instead of using a theoretical approach has considered a computer model as means of assessing the reformate composition for three-stage fixed bed reactors in platforming unit. This is done by identifying many possible hydrocarbon transformation reactions that are peculiar to the process unit, identify the operating data, mathematically model and programme their reaction rate equations using QBasic language. In this article outlet product rate of 311363.59 kg/hr in the first, second and third reactor was obtained by modeling 275 m 3 /h inlet feed rate of Bayton Rouge Naphtha in the Kaduna Refinery. A manual or theoretical calculated value of 311145.22 kg/hr of outlet product rate was obtained showing a slight deviation of 0.9%. The authors are convinced that the written computer model could be applied in the process unit because it is accurate and less time consuming.

Quality Assessment of Soil and Groundwater near Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Northwest Nigeria

Soil and water are precious natural resources on which rely the sustainability of agriculture, industrialization and the civilization of mankind. Unfortunately, they have been subjected to contamination due to anthropogenic activities leading to the release of heavy metals into the environment. The history of petroleum exploration, exploitation, refining and marketing in Nigeria is a long, complex and painful one in terms of soil and groundwater pollution, which has resulted to multiple environmental and health problems. The study reveals that in some locations near the refinery, the soil and the groundwater are slightly polluted with heavy metals in the order of Fe > As > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd > Mn, which may be attributed to the natural enrichment of groundwater through weathering of bedrock in the course of groundwater migration and anthropogenic via dumping of untreated effluents from the refinery and petrochemical into the nearby soil and surface water. The use of groundwater from the shallow hand-dug wells by host communities should be discouraged and alternative source of water should be provided by the company or government. Deep sited boreholes should be sunk to replace the existing Original Research Article Amadi et al.; JSRR, Article no. JSRR.2014.010 885 shallow hand-dug wells in the area. Effluents and waste-water from the refinery and petrochemical should be treated before disposing into the nearby farmlands or surface water.

Effects of Emissions from Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) on Soil Fertility in Rido Area of Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

The environment is considered as man’s important asset that must be protected for his life support. Regrettably, the situation is different where oil refinery and petrochemical plants operate. Environmental pollution in the form of emissions and effluent discharge in these areas poses serious threat to the ecosystem particularly soil, often with undesirable effects. This paper, therefore, takes a look at the refinery operations in Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC). The study collected soil samples using soil Auger at 500 metres interval along four (4) transects in two years (i.e 2012 - 2013) and both in the wet and dry season of each year. Soil samples collected were taken to the laboratory for analysis and emphasis placed on those soil properties directly affecting soil fertility status which are: water holding capacity, soil acidity, macro nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium), micro nutrients (Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur), the results from the laboratory analysis on those properties affecting soil fertility were compared with National standard (maximum permissible limits) on those properties and discovers soil contaminations with liquid gaseous and solid waste disposal from the refinery. Policy recommendations are set forth based on research findings with a view to minimizing the effects of emissions from the Refining plants and Petrochemical complex on the environmental components particularly soil in the study area.

Road Haulage Constraints in the Transportation of Petroleum Products in Northern Nigeria

In Nigeria, about 80% of petroleum movements are done on the road and there has been a steady growth in number of road tanker vehicles. This study examines road haulage constraints in the transportation of petroleum products. The study relied on primary data obtained through systematic administration of questionnaire to truck drivers at the point of waiting to load petroleum products in Kaduna Refinery. In all, 182 respondents were sampled. These problems were rank-ordered, the result of the study reveals that the major constraint confronting tanker drivers in conveying petroleum products to the selected locations is delay at police and military check points (mean= 1.72), followed by mechanical problems (mean=2.17), using K-W non parametric test. Furthermore, the correlation matrix of the trucking problem result reveals that five pairs of the constraints were significant with the strongest positive correlation being that of bad roads and delay in offloading, r=0.81, p< 0.001. These results are fundamental for the prioritization of palliative measures to improve the constraints of road haulage of petroleum products in northern Nigeria.

Production of Biodiesel (B100) from Jatropha Oil Using Sodium Hydroxide as Catalyst

This research work is about the production of biodiesel from jatropha oil. Other oils can also be used for the production, but jatropha was chosen because it is not edible therefore, it will not pose a problem to humans in terms of food competition. Before the transesterification process was carried out, some basic tests such as free fatty acid content, iodine value, and moisture content were carried out. This was done so as to ascertain quality yield of the biodiesel after the reaction. The production of the biodiesel was done with standard materials and under standard conditions which made the production a hitch-free one. The jatropha oil was heated to 60°C, and a solution of sodium methoxide (at 60°C) was added to the oil and stirred for 45 minutes using a magnetic stirrer. The mixture was then left to settle for 24 hours. Glycerin, which is the byproduct, was filtered off. The biodiesel was then thoroughly washed to ensure that it was free from excess methanol and soap. The characterization was done at NNPC Kaduna refinery and petrochemicals. The result shows that the product meets the set standard for biodiesel.

Production of biodiesel from Jatropha oil (Curcas Oil)

This work deals with the production of Biodiesel from Jatropha oil also known as Curcas oil. Material used for the production was sourced for locally. Basic test for the suitability of the Jatropha oil was carried out in the lab. The test carried out to determine if the produced Biodiesel met standards set was carried out at the NNPC Kaduna Refinery. The production consisted of very few materials which makes the fuel easily produced without much complication. Jatropha oil was heated to 60oC, a solution of Potassium methoxide also at 600C was added and stirred continuously for one hour. It was left to settle for 24 hours. Glycerine is then removed from the sample by decantation. The sample is then washed and dried. Test carried out on the biodiesel found it well within limits set for biodiesel’s properties by ISO 14214 specification on Biodiesel.Keywords: Biodiesel, Jatropha Oil, Refinery, Potassium Methoxide, Glycerine, By-product, Filtering.

Public Health Effects of Effluent Discharge of Kaduna Refinery into River Romi

Public Health Effects of Effluent Discharge of Kaduna Refinery into River Romi

Significance of Kaduna River to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Complex: Some Checks and Balances

Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex comprises of variousprocessing units. The plants produce various grades of petroleum andpetrochemical products. But in all of the plants and facilities, water isrequired in its various forms. The paper describes Desalter Process andRefinery Wastewater. The only major source of water is Kaduna River. TheChemical compositions of the raw and filtered water differ. The compositionsof the treated and &ldquo;imported&rdquo; bottled waters are the same and thus fit fordrinking. pH value is fairly constant and so also other elements. Purificationis by demineralization using ion-exchange resins. Demineralised watercontains a number of chemicals and compounds. The process waters aredischarged either as steam or drained out as affluent water. The Sour WaterStripper (SWS) is not functioning. Consequently, the polluted wastewater isdischarged directly to the environment. The Sour Water Stripper must beresuscitated and made to function. Government and KRPC would need toinform and educate members of the community about the effluent wastewaterand its consequences in the environment. Ultra Filtration Membrane Systemis recommended for treatment of desalter effluent.

Heavy Metal Content of Some Savanna Plant Species in Relation to Air Pollution

The Sb, Cr, Ni, As, Pb and Cu contents in leaves of Dichrostachys cinerea, Ficus platyphylla, Isoberlinia doka and Securiniga virosa growing around the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Complex (KRPC) were compared with heavy metal contents of the same species growing in a relatively “clean” environment, during the rainy and dry seasons of 2001.

The Effects of Refinery Effluent of the Chlorophyll a and Gross Primary Productivity of River Rido

The effect of Kaduna Refinery effluent discharge on the chlorophyll a and gross primary productivity of river Rido was studied for 12 months at 3 stations in the river. Station 1 is the clean water station not affected by the discharge; stations 2 & 3 are the polluted area. The values for chlorophyll a and gross primary productivity were low in all the stations. Station 1 showed significantly higher (P Journal of Aquatic Sciences Volume 14, April 1999, pp. 43-46 KEY WORDS: Discharge, chlorophyll a, gross primary productivity, effluents, polluted.