A New Breakthrough in Purely Physical Demulsification Treatment of Coking Acidic Water
1. What is coking acidic water?
Coking acidic water is industrial wastewater generated during the processing of sulfur-containing crude oil and its by-products (such as coke, coal gas, and tar). This type of wastewater contains high concentrations of acidic components, including hydrogen sulfide and sulfuric acid, and is rich in various pollutants such as sulfides, ammonia, phenols, cyanides, and oils. Its composition is complex, encompassing phenols, oils, naphthalene, pyridine, quinoline, anthracene, and other heterocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is widely recognized as a significant challenge in the field of industrial wastewater treatment.
Sample Coking Acidic Water (High Emulsification)
2. Challenges in Treating Coking Acidic Water
a. Coking acidic water has a high concentration of acidic substances and a low pH, making it difficult to treat. These acidic components are highly toxic to the environment and creatures, necessitating effective treatment.
b. Some of the wastewater is severely emulsified. It is difficult to achieve demulsification and oil removal just using traditional methods.
c. Coking acidic water contains a large amount of suspended solids (SS) and oil contaminants, which cause turbidity and further complicate the treatment process. The presence of SS and oil not only affects treatment efficiency but may also lead to equipment clogging and damage.
d. Coking acidic water contains various organic compounds and heavy metal ions, posing potential hazards to the environment and ecosystems. Therefore, in addition to removing acidic substances and SS, effective elimination of organic compounds and heavy metals is also required during treatment.
3. What are the current treatment processes for coking acidic water?
a. Activated Sludge Method: As a commonly used aerobic biological treatment technology, the activated sludge method can reduce pollutants such as oils, certain organic compounds, ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen in wastewater to some extent. However, due to the presence of a large amount of non-biodegradable macro-molecular organic compounds in coking wastewater, the traditional activated sludge method struggles to remove them completely. This results in relatively high residual organic content in the effluent, making it difficult to meet discharge or reuse standards. Therefore, further advanced treatment is required.
b. Chemical Method: This approach involves adding chemical agents to neutralize acidic substances, thereby achieving goals. However, the process generates a significant amount of chemical sludge and oily waste residues, which will cause secondary pollution. Additionally, the cost of chemicals is relatively high.
c. Biological Method: This method utilizes specific microbial consortia to degrade organic compounds, thereby purifying the water. Biological treatment offers advantages such as effective pollutant removal and minimal secondary pollution. However, the process is relatively complex, requiring strict control and maintenance of the microbial growth environment.
4. Latest Treatment Process for Coking Acidic Water
To address the aforementioned treatment challenges, Sinokle has developed a patented process system combined with “Cyclonic Dissolved Gas Flotation Unit (CDFU) + Precision Filter + KHC Coalescing Oil-water Separator”. This technical solution offers significant advantages: the entire treatment process relies on purely physical demulsification and separation, eliminating the need for chemical additives and preventing the generation of scum and oily sludge, thereby fundamentally avoiding secondary pollution. The demulsification effect is stable and reliable, while the separated waste oil can be effectively recovered. The reclaimed oil product is of high quality with low water content, making it suitable for reuse in refining processes. This process combines energy efficiency, environmental protection, and economic benefits, providing an ideal solution for the treatment of coking acidic water.
CDFU Equipment in a Sinopec Branch
