(47e) Renewable Feedstocks Contaminants Derived Challenges & Solutions for Petrochemical Plants

Renewable feedstocks are one of the main ingredients for the modern green chemistry. Non-renewable traditional resources supply 86% of our energy and 96% of organic chemicals (Binder and Raines, 2009). Despite incredible volumes of research on renewable feedstock conversion, there have been few tangible successes and renewable feedstocks are not yet fulfilling their potential. Renewable feedstocks rarely have the purity and homogeneity that traditional feedstocks offer, and purification processes for bio-derived streams are particularly expensive. The contaminants present in these feedstocks can lead to issues such as corrosion, fouling, and product quality.

Further, water used in the process units becomes contaminated with high levels of organics, such as free fatty acids, glycerin, and glycerol. These dissolved organics increase wastewater's chemical oxygen demand (COD), which can significantly impact the secondary treatment processes in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at biorefineries. Therefore, effective COD reduction is essential to ensure the proper functioning of secondary treatment processes in a WWTP.

In this paper, a unique solution will be presented that addresses the problems caused by contaminants that can negatively impact the quality of renewable petrochemical feedstocks. Some of the contaminants present in these feedstocks can lead to issues such as corrosion, fouling, and concerns related to health, safety, and the environment. The approach presented in this paper involves using a combination of specialized chemical additives and mechanical equipment to improve the quality of the feedstock and increase its market value. This holistic approach ensures a synergistic effect, resulting in a premium quality feedstock for the petrochemical plant.

Keywords: Renewable Feedstocks, Contaminants, Processing Challenges, Chemical Additives, wastewater treatment.