Novel Electrochemical Treatment of Spent Caustic from the Hydrocarbon Industry Using Ti/BDD

Novel Electrochemical Treatment of Spent Caustic from the Hydrocarbon Industry Using Ti/BDD

Type	Journal Article
Author	Alejandro Medel
Author	Erika Bustos
URL	Free Full Text Source:  http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/2015/829136/abs/
Publication	International Journal of Photoenergy
Date	2014
Abstract	During the crude oil refining process, NaOH solutions are used to remove H2S, H2, and sulfur compounds from different hydrocarbon streams. The residues obtained are called spent caustics. These residues can be mixed with those obtained in other processes, adding to its chemical composition naphthenic acids and phenolic compounds, resulting in one of the most dangerous industrial residues. Researchers examined the use of electrochemical technology (ET), using BDD with Ti as substrate (Ti/BDD), and evaluated the technology in electrolysis of spent caustic mixtures, obtained through individual samples from different refineries. The Ti/BDDs capability of carrying out the electrochemical destruction of spent caustics in an acidic medium was evaluated having as key process a chemical pretreatment phase. The potential production of OHs, as the main reactive oxygen species electrogenerated over Ti/BDD surface, was evaluated in HCl and H2SO4 through fluorescence spectroscopy, demonstrating the reaction medium’s  influence on its production. The results show that the hydrocarbon industry spent caustics can be mineralized to CO2 and water, driving the use of ET and of the Ti/BDD to solve a real problem, whose potential and negative impact on the environment and on human health is and has been the environmental agencies’ main focus.