Membrane technology for processing of acid tars

Abstract

A process for processing acid tars using membrane technology is proposed. Petroleum products are obtained as a result -lube oil, resin, solid fuel.In refining crude oil into a commercial product, in particular, in treatment of lube oils, waxes, and motor fuel, large-tonnage, environmentally hazardous (toxicity class 2) wastes -acid tars -are formed. These wastes are frequently discharged and stored in special ponds -open-air earthen tanks of man-made and natural origin.The acid tar reserves in CIS countries have reached 1-1.5 million tons according to different sources of information. There are also acid-tar ponds in other countries -Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, etc. Hundreds of thousands of tons of these wastes are concentrated in these ponds.It should be noted that the information on all sites of accumulation of large amounts of acid tars cannot be considered reliable. Companies, organizations, and other owners carrying storage ponds on the balance sheet are not interested in divulging them due to the recent strengthening of liability for environmental pollution.The situation is also similar for processing of acid tars in Ukraine.The proposed methods of utilizing acid tars (basically using expensive foreign units) are based on partial neutralization (with lime), homogenization, and conversion of toxic wastes to neutral wastes and on combustion of the bottom layer. These methods are suitable for utilization of acid tars of a certain kind. They are usually

Characterization and utilization of acid tar waste from crude benzol processing for environmental sustainability

“…During storage in holding ponds, the chemical composition of the acid tar changed as a result of leaching of the acid from the tar by rainfall, evolution of sulphur dioxide and condensation of the substances present in the acid tar [3]. [4] Also supports this when he observed the inconsistent chemical composition of the acid tar that changes with time due to the reaction of the organic components with atmospheric oxygen and sulphuric acid. The use of quick lime to neutralise acid tars in lagoons has been found to be environmentally unacceptable since it produces emissions which will lead to environmental problems such as acid rain and global warming [1].…”

“…The use of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for characterisation of organics and coal by-products was common [8]; [9]; [5] and [10]. According to [4], FTIR is used to further confirm the presence of organic groups detected by GC-MS. [10], used gas chromatograph and a mass selective detector along side FTIR to determine the organic composition of crude benzene. [8] Used GC-FTIR system were the FT-IR at a frequency range of 4000 to 580cm -1 at resolution of 8cm -1 was used as a detector.…”

“…Thin film cracking of acid tars at 350-400 0 C resulted in asphaltene material of 65-70%, liquid hydrocarbons of 20-25% and gas of 5-10% and at 500 0 C coke at 18% and liquid hydrocarbons 75% produced [27]. A technology for processing acid tars with the aim of obtaining solid fuel, resins and general use medium oils was proposed by [4]. The proposed technology is based on the use of membrane methods of separation of hydrocarbons and comprises the following steps: heating and filtration to remove acid water and particulate contaminants; neutralisation of the filtered acid tars with an alkali solution; two stage de-asphalting and subsequent series of separation of oil and resin in membrane units.…”