• Reduce waste first through operational discipline. • Build flexibility through smarter system design and connectivity. • Align the organisation so execution matches strategy. Every drop counts, but success comes when the struc - ture is built to manage it. A sustainable and effective water strategy does not require perfection, and it often does not require major capital. What it does require is focus, sequencing, and accountability. When those elements are in place, water management becomes a driver of reliability, cost reduction, risk control, and long-term resilience. Q What technological advances can be leveraged to accelerate the next wave of SAF projects? A Scott Sayles, Manager, Renewable Fuels and Alternate Feeds, ssayles@becht.com, Becht Emerging technologies for SAF are being announced at a rapid pace, though implementation remains slower. Hydrotreating is still the primary upgrading technology in use today. Examples of developing pathways include: • Ethanol to SAF. • Bamboo and other biomass to SAF. • Methanol to SAF. • CO₂ to SAF. • Other options. The basic concept across these approaches is the use of alternative carbon sources to produce SAF. These pro - cesses are technologically complex and typically yield a lower volume of SAF than the feed to the unit. SAF pro - duction can be increased, but doing so requires significant capital investment and higher operating costs. Competition with fossil fuels limits the likelihood of large-scale expan - sion, meaning that government funding or changes in crude pricing would be required to accelerate production. A Natalia Krupkin, Technical Service Manager, Biofuels Applications, W. R. Grace & Co. (Grace), natalia.v.krupkin@ grace.com As the production of SAF expands, the next wave of proj - ects will depend not only on new catalytic technologies but also on technological advances, such as advanced feed - stock pretreatment innovations that help producers reduce cost, risk, and their environmental footprint. Synthetic amorphous silica adsorbents can offer a critical technologi - cal lever that can be implemented to help improve feedstock quality, simplify pretreatment processes, and materially reduce solid waste generation, which is an increasingly important constraint for large-scale SAF deployment. A fundamental challenge of SAF production is the high impurity content and variability of renewable and waste- based lipid feedstocks, which can include waste/used cook - ing oil, animal fats, and distillers’ corn oil. These feedstocks often contain phospholipids, soaps, trace metals, and other polar contaminants that can deactivate hydrotreating cata - lysts, increase hydrogen consumption, and shorten operat - ing cycles. Technologically advanced products like Grace’s proprietary Trisyl silica adsorbent, unlike natural silica, are engineered
advantaged economics, and improved carbon footprint, FCC technologies offer a practical alternative to naphtha-centric petrochemical feedstock production. These pathways, coupled with incremental value extension opportunities, allow refiners to adapt existing assets to changing market and carbon constraints without reliance on new, capital- intensive routes. ZAVANTI and OlefinsUltra MZ are marks of W. R. Grace & Co. (Grace). 1 Petrobras and Braskem complete tests for renewable content chemi - cal product, Hydrocarbon Processing , August 2024. Q What innovative strategies can refiners consider for securing long-term fresh water supply? A Carlos Cavalca, Vice President, Technical & Performance, Innovation Leader, Sustainable Industries & Buildings, Charles.cavalca@veolia.com, Veolia North America, Eric Ye, Process Group Lead, eye@becht.com, Becht, and Karen Green, Sustainability Technologist, KGreen1@Marathonpetroleum.com, Marathon Petroleum Securing long-term fresh water supplies for refining opera - tions is not necessarily a matter of adopting the latest inno - vative technologies or strategies, but rather developing a deliberate, well-designed, and carefully planned water use strategy that starts with understanding the source(s) and quality of the water consumed and what purposes the water consumption serves the refinery. In addition, an understand - ing of the drivers for water reduction and the real investment required to implement the actions or projects is needed. The first step in the development of an effective and sus - tainable water strategy, if not already done, is to conduct a comprehensive water use audit. This audit accounts for the sources of water and all types and uses of water consump - tion. It is more than a simple accounting of the volume of the water consumed and where it is being used. Instead, the audit is an overview of how the water is being used. Following this audit, a structured water use reduction programme should be developed. This programme starts with benchmarking water usage against industry norms and conducting a brainstorming workshop to identify capi - tal and non-capital water reduction measures. These initia - tives and projects are then prioritised and implemented in a manner consistent with the refinery’s needs, budget, and overall strategy. The implementation of this strategy is a concerted effort between the people who run the units every day and those who maintain and optimise them. The most durable gains in water consumption are realised when water becomes part of daily operational thinking rather than by implement - ing the latest technology. Alignment and commitment are essential. Leadership commitment is necessary, but day-to-day results depend on the decisions made by operators, engineers, and super - visors, with clear priorities, transparency, and consis - tent performance tracking that build trust and reinforce accountability. The strongest water reduction programmes consistently follow three principles:
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PTQ Q3 2026
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