PTQ Q2 2025 Issue

and control programme delivered was the reliable use and operation of a circular water system. The refinery was able to use 100% of the recycled water during times of upset in the wastewater treatment plant, which is a significant benefit. As mentioned previously, water is a very impor- tant resource, not only for industrial operations but also for the communities surrounding them. Reusing water shows good stewardship by the refinery and proves it is investing in the future. In addition to using less freshwater by reusing more grey water, the refinery also decreased its carbon dioxide emissions by more than 550 tons per year. This decrease in emissions was due to the significant (80%) reduction in hypochlorite usage. Future opportunities As the environment continues to change and water resources become even scarcer, let us consider how the actions of a refinery or chemical processing plant could affect the envi- ronment in general and water usage specifically: • How could a refinery or chemical processing plant increase its water recycling and reuse? • How much freshwater and money would a refinery or chemical processing plant save each year by increasing the amount of water it recycles and reuses? • How would decreasing the amount of chemicals used benefit a refinery or chemical processing plant? • Could a refinery or chemical processing plant incorporate advanced equipment, such as the analyser, to increase pro- ductivity and provide environmental benefits? • Are chemical suppliers helping refineries reach their sus- tainability goals? Having the ability to reuse water and maintain its qual- ity will not only ensure more reliable operations but also improve a refinery or chemical plant’s bottom line. As water scarcity intensifies, the cost of acquiring water is expected to rise, making efficient water management and water stewardship increasingly more important. By implementing water recycling systems and processes now, operations can gain a significant advantage. These proactive measures will help reduce operational costs, mitigate the risk of water shortages, and enhance long-term sustainability, position- ing operations for both environmental and economic suc- cess in a resource-constrained future. Christina Möring is an Applications Engineer and Corporate Innovation Manager for the European team at Solenis LLC. She is responsible for implementing new technologies with the commercial team and pro- moting growth. Möring has been with Solenis for 13 years. Email: cmoering@solenis.com Johan Hutsebaut is a Corporate Account Manager for the Industrial Water Treatment business at Solenis LLC. Located in Europe, he has been with Solenis for seven years and has a focus in the refining and petrochemical markets. Email: jhutsebaut@solenis.com Caroline Bird is Sr. Marketing Specialist, Industrial Water Treatment at Solenis LLC and has been with Solenis for three years. Bird focuses on strategically driving growth in the heavy industry sector. Email: cbird@solenis.com

10 12 14 16

13.8

7.2

6.9

0 6 4 2 8

Hypochlorite treatment baseline

ClearPoint 3 months

ClearPoint 6 months

Treatment timeframe

microbiological growth meant that refinery personnel were required to perform maintenance less often, which reduced operating costs and increased safety. The last objective noted in Table 1 was to reduce corrosion rates in the treated tertiary water used as make-up water for the cooling towers. Prior to and during this application, a corrosion inhibitor was not fed to the wastewater treatment plant. Corrosion rates, therefore, remained higher than they typically would be in a refinery. The continuous dosing of hypochlorite under the previous programme had caused a residual of free chlorine, and this caused high oxidation-re- duction potential (ORP), which contributed to increased corrosion rates on the mild steel. In addition, a significant concentration of chlorides was introduced into the system, further increasing the corrosion potential. Using the new programme produced an overall reduction in the make-up water mild steel corrosion rates by more than 50%. Figure 4 shows the decrease in corrosion rates through- out the entire application. The corrosion rates, although reduced, remained greater than the industry standards because a corrosion inhibitor was not added to the make-up water, and the water quality was recycled wastewater. To achieve industry-standard corrosion rates, the engineers could add a corrosion inhibitor to the treatment plan. The corrosion coupons also showed improvement in corrosion control under the new programme. Overall, this application met all three of the objectives set by the refinery and its specialty chemical team: reduce hypochlorite consumption, improve water quality (by reducing bacteria growth in make-up water) and consist- ency, and reduce tertiary water corrosion, meeting the goal of increasing refinery circularity. Furthermore, the decrease in chemical usage and the reduction in corrosion rates resulted not only in cost savings but also in the extension of the life of key assets. Corrosion can cause serious issues for any industrial operation; protecting expensive refinery assets is extremely important. Sustainability advantages Through its partnership with the specialty chemical sup- plier, the refinery was able to realise additional sustaina- bility benefits. The main benefit that the biofilm detection Figure 4 Mild steel corrosion rate reduction after the Clear- Point programme began. Note: Corrosion inhibitor was not added to the make-up water

PTQ Q2 2025