Physicochemical Characterization of Spent Caustic from the OXIMER Process and Sour Waters from Mexican Oil Refineries

• DOI: 10.1021/ef030053c
• Publication Date: 2004-03-17T05:43:23Z
• Authors: A. Olmos; P. Olguin; C. Fajardo; E. Razo; O. Monroy
• Keywords: Asphaltene; Refinery; Petroleum product

Spent caustic is a waste from oil refineries which difficult to treat and dispose of due its noxious properties such as high content in paraffins asphaltenes hydrocarbons form all sorts emulsions solutions, 5 18% free NaOH, up 35 g Cl-/L, phenol compounds, organic inorganic sulfur compounds. Its composition depends on the source fuel being desulfurated. This mixture very reactive therefore characterization dependent way sample handled. Samples have be collected cold storage container with no more than 6 h having been rejected process. The sampling must sealed pressure-proof. Part has acidified situ for certain analysis. spent Tula refinery Mexico 320 COD/L 114 come compounds (3.6 COD/g S), 153 phenolic (phenol 78 COD/L) rest other petroleum derivatives asphaltenes, paraffins, mercaptans. Present treatment processes involve incineration caustics, an effort needed biological order cut maintenance costs.