Chemical engineering waste management systems

Solid-liquid separations are important operations in chemical engineering ranging from upstream raw material purification, to downstream product separation and waste managements. They are usually low cost, and low energy consumption. A successful operation of a SLS system upstream a major chemical engineering unit such as a catalyst bed will help to improve the efficiency the catalyst, and decrease overall cost of the whole process. 

Smith, R., E. A. Petela, 1991-1992, Waste minimisation in process industries. The Chemical Engineer (UK), ibid. 1. The problem, 24-25, Oct. 1991, ibid. 2. Reactors. 17-23, Dec. 1991, ibid 3. Separation and recycle systems, 24-28 Febr. 1992, ibid 4. Process operations, 21-23, April 1992, ibid 5. Utility waste, 32-35, July, 1992 Towler, G. P., R. Mann, A. J. Serriere, C. M. D. Gabaude, 1996, Refinery hydrogen management cost analysis of chemically-integrated facilities, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 35 (78), 2378-2388... 

One activity that highlights P2 in a model chemical management system is the control of chemicals purchased by a facility. At Pantex Plant this process is implemented through the use of the PX-761 process. The requestor completes the PX-761, Pantex Chemical Request Form, before the chemical is purchased. The form is reviewed by personnel from the Occupational Safety Health Department, Fire Department, Fire Protection Engineering Department, Waste Operations Department and Explosives Safety Department. This review ensures that the chemical is safe for use with the proper controls in place... 

However, until relatively recently, most workers concerned with waste management have tended to consider chemical processes primarily because they may affect the physical containment properties of engineered barrier systems. Several texts have examined these physical aspects of containment in considerable detail (e.g. Bentley 1996). Implicitly, there has been a tendency to view chemical containment as an aspect of physical containment. For example, any collapse of expandable clay minerals, such as may be caused by interactions involving polar organic molecules, will affect the physical integrity of clay barriers (e.g. Bowders Daniele 1987 Hettirachi et al. 1988). However, this view of containment is simplistic. In reality, chemical and physical processes must be considered holistically. For example, where clay is used to confine a waste, it should be considered as a physico-chemical barrier to contaminant migration (Horseman et al. 1996). 

William Randall Seeker received his Ph.D. in engineering (nuclear and chemical) from Kansas State University. He is the senior vice president and a member of the board of directors of Energy and Environmental Research Corporation. Dr. Seeker has extensive experience in the use of thermal treatment technologies and environmental control systems for managing hazardous waste. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency s Science Advisory Board. Dr. Seeker has authored over 100 technical papers on various aspects of technology and environment subjects. 

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