Refining environmental protection

There always is a relation between fuel composition and that of hydrocarbon emissions to the atmosphere, whether it concerns hydrocarbon emissions from evaporative losses from the fuel system, or from exhaust gases. This is the reason that environmental protection regulations include monitoring the composition of motor and heating fuels. We will describe here the regulations already in existence and the work currently underway in this area with its possible effects on refining. 

There are no fumes or effluents generated in the processing of powders and the requirements of state and federal environmental protection agencies are met without difficulty. However, the production of powders has been subjected to the same concerns as most other metal refining and smelting operations. 

Profile of the Petroleum Refining Iruiustry, EPA 310-R-95-013. Washington U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1995. 

EPA. 1996. Study of Selected Petroleum Refining Residuals. Office of Solid Waste Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. 

In its 1977 survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) identified over 150 separate processes being used in refineries [5]. A refinery may employ any number or a combination of these processes, depending upon the type of cmde processed, the type of product being produced, and the characteristics of the particular refinery. The refining processes can generally be classified as separation, conversion, and chemical treatment processes [1]. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Development Document for Effluent Limitations, Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Refining Point Source Category, EPA-440/1-82-014, 1982. 

For these reasons, the burden of environmental protection is falling on the manufacturers of the fuels to produce products that will have minimal impact on the environment, and this translates to very low levels of sulfur in fuels. So-called deep refining of petroleum products is thus required, although the extent of this refining may vary, depending on the type of fuel and its content of contaminants. 

Refinement of waste nitric gases (NO+NO2), is particularly significant from both the point of view of environmental protection and the use of components they contain. A lab plant has been built for this purpose where effects of these factors have been tested ... 

EPA. 1995k. Hazardous waste management system identification and listing of hazardous waste petroleum refining process wastes land disposal restrictions for newly identified wastes ad CERCLA hazardous substances designation and reportable quantities. Environmental Protection Agency. 60 FR 57747. 

Risk of dietary exposure to fenthion is largely due to potential residues in beef meat and fat while it can be excreted in cow s milk, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) analyses of close to 1300 samples yielded no detections. The US Environmental Protection Agency s (US EPA s) most recent re-registration documents contain data on potential dietary exposure, but these estimates have not been refined because of the change in use of the pesticide. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) has only a 90-day review period to issue a decision on Premanufacture Notices filed under the TSCA for any new compound to be manufactured or imported. The availability of inexpensive approaches for reliable assessment of hazard to environment and human health could be of immense value to OPPT. Likewise agencies such as the European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) aim to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods... which reduce, refine, or replace the use of laboratory animals [5]. 

Deerhake, ME, et al. n.d. Human and ecological risk assessment for the petroleum refining waste listing determinations background document. Prepared for the Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, by Research Triangle Institute under Contract No. 68-W-4-0042. 

EPA. 1981b. Identification and listing of hazardous waste. Subpart D Lists of hazardous wastes hazardous wastes from specific sources Petroleum refining wastes (K048 - K052). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Code of Federal Regulations. 40 CFR 261.32. 

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