effectively manage environmental impacts in their planned investments and therefore conduct the following activities: • The environmental impacts of proposed investment pro- jects are evaluated from an LCT perspective during the ‘pre-feasibility’ and ‘feasibility’ stages • LCA studies are conducted for significant process pro - jects planned for investment. Results LCA studies have been completed for total of 10 units at different locations so far. Implementation processes have been triggered for identified savings and process improve - ment measures. Studies will continue until the processes in the refineries are completed: • The resulting outcomes are interpreted by the respective process teams considering process conditions, and actions that enhance the effective management of environmental impacts are identified. ◾ For one unit, 15.72 m³/day potential water savings were anticipated ◾ Another unit identified environmental impact related to heat exchanger fouling in line with the findings of the pro - cess and energy teams ◾ In another unit, the analysis showed that a study is needed to compare the effects of steam-driven pumps with electric pumps ◾ In a different unit, the magnitude of environmental impacts across different categories was assessed relative to the environmental load, and reduction scenarios were initiated for common pollutant parameters. In the ‘human carcinogenic toxicity’ effect category, benzene, which con- stitutes only 4% of the environmental burden by mass, has caused 94% of the environmental effect. In the ‘human non-carcinogenic toxicity’ effect category, hexane, which constitutes 27% of the environmental burden by mass, has caused 80% of the environmental effect. Reduction and control scenarios are being evaluated with different technologies ◾ In the LCA study carried out in one unit, the indirect environmental effects of the catalysts used were evaluated, and it was determined that the environmental effects of the catalysts containing chromium and copper were the highest. Results showed that catalyst make-up and change assessments should be conducted considering environ- mental impacts in addition to economic and performance indicators. Hence, metals recovery from spent catalysts is being conducted from a life cycle point of view ◾ In one unit, the chemical which caused the highest environmental impact was determined, and chemical opti- misation was evaluated • Additionally, an LCA was conducted to support the legis- lative process of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. The analysis determined the optimum volatile organic carbon emission limit for vapour recovery systems to be included in the planned legislation for refiner - ies, and recommendations were made to the Ministry. Several emission limits are compared with the required energy lev- els of vapour recovery systems to reach that emission level. A breakpoint is determined (5-10 g non-methaneous VOC/
Nm³) where a decrease in the emission limit requires more energy which brings out more greenhouse gas emissions relative to a decrease in volatile organic carbon emissions. References 1 Liu Y, Lu S, Yan X, Gao S, Cui X, Cui Z, Life cycle assessment of petroleum refining process: A case study in China, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol 256, 120422, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jclepro.2020.120422 2 Demirer G N (UD), Pratik Yaşam Döngüsü Analizi Klavuzu AB Sürecinde İşletmeler ve Kamu için Yaşam Döngüsü Analizi Yöntem ve Örnekleri, Sürdürülebilir Üretim ve Tüketim Yayınları – I, Retrieved from https://recturkey.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/yda.pdf 3 Sala S, Amadei A, Beylot A, Ardente F, The evolution of life cycle assessment in European policies over three decades, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment , 26, 2,295-2,314, 2021, https://doi. org/10.1007/s11367-021-01893-2 4 International Organization for Standardization, 2006, EN ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework. Retrieved from www.iso.org/stand- ard/37456.html 5 Forbrugerombudsmanden. (2021). Kvikguide til virksomheder om miljømarkedsføring (Quick guide for companies on environmen- tal marketing). Retrieved from www.forbrugerombudsmanden.dk/ media/56731/kvikguide-om-miljoemarkedsfoering.pdf 6 European Parliament and Council, Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of 18 June, 2020, on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustain- able investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088, Official Journal of the European Union , L 198, 22.06.2020. 7 European Commission, Commission Staff Working Document Impact Assessment Report, 2021. Retrieved from taxonomy-regulation-dele- gated-act-2021-2800-impact-assessment_en.pdf (europa.eu) 8 Solomon L H, Waddams A L, Carruthers J E, Petroleum Refining. E ncyclopedia Britannica , last updated: June 28, 2023. www.britannica. com/technology/petroleum-refining 9 Ogolo N A, Anih O C, Onyekonwu M O, Sources and effects of envi- ronmental pollution from oil and gas industrial operations, Arabian Journal of Chemical and Environmental Research , Vol 09, Issue 01, 2022, 98-121. Berkem Ç is the Lead Environmental Engineer at Tüpraş Technical Services Directorate, İstanbul, Turkey. She is responsible for emissions management, life cycle assessment, and environmental sustainability studies with integrated environmental management. She holds BSc and MSc degrees from Middle East Technical University. She con- ducted life cycle assessment studies at Clemson University as a visit- ing scholar. Email: cisem.berkem@tupras.com.tr Sarp Akarsu M is an Environmental Chief Engineer at Tüpraş Technical Services Directorate, İstanbul, Turkey. Previously, she worked as Environmental Control Chief Engineer at Tüpraş İzmit Refinery, responsible for life cycle assessment, greenhouse gas management, and waste management. She holds BS and MSc degrees in environ- mental engineering from Dokuz Eylül University and continues her doctorate at Dokuz Eylül University. Esenboğa E E is a Water and Wastewater Senior Researcher and a mem- ber of the circular economy team at Tüpraş Research and Development Center, Kocaeli, Turkey. Previously, she worked as a process chief engi- neer, responsible for processes of wastewater treatment plants, sour water strippers, wastewater recovery units, flare gas recovery systems, and caustic neutralisation units. She holds BSc and MSc degrees in envi- ronmental engineering from Istanbul Technical University.
87
PTQ Q4 2023
www.digitalrefining.com
Powered by FlippingBook