Benzene Stripping: A Critical Step in Compliance

Benzene, with its hazardous properties, is subject to strict EPA initiatives aimed at limiting its release into the environment. Leveraging steam stripping technology, Koch Modular has successfully designed systems capable of reducing benzene concentrations in wastewater to as low as 5 parts per billion (ppb). This approach is both effective and efficient, utilizing steam to volatize benzene due to its lower boiling point and limited solubility in water.

Our Proven Process

The benzene stripping process begins with a detailed understanding of the feed stream’s composition, often characterized by fouling properties that demand a durable design. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:

1. Handling Inert Gases: Stripped inert gases are routed to a flare header to maintain safe operations.

2. Preheating the Feed: Wastewater is preheated near its boiling point using heat exchange with the stripped effluent, ensuring energy efficiency.

3. Steam Stripping Column: Preheated feed enters the top of the stripping column while live steam is injected at the base. Steam effectively separates benzene from water, leaving behind a cleaner bottoms product.

4. Condensation and Separation: Overhead vapors, containing water and benzene, are condensed and separated into two liquid phases. Benzene is decanted off, while the aqueous layer is refluxed to the column.

Engineering for Performance and Longevity

The physical properties of water, benzene’s relative volatility, and the low concentration gradients present unique challenges in tray efficiency. Our systems are engineered to manage these challenges while maintaining continuous operation in demanding environments.

The Modular Advantage

At Koch Modular, we deliver these systems using a modular delivery model, integrating all components into road-transportable modules. This modular construction method offers several benefits:

• Reduced Costs: Lower installation and field construction expenses.
• Faster Timelines: Accelerated project delivery compared to traditional field-erected systems.
• Guaranteed Quality: Complete process performance guarantees backed by over 30 successful implementations.

Each system includes structural steel, all process equipment, piping, field instruments, control systems, and insulation—fully compliant with client standards and specifications.

A Partner You Can Rely On

From concept to commercialization, Koch Modular guides clients in developing an efficient process for benzene removal. By combining innovation with proven technology, we help petrochemical plants achieve environmental compliance while maintaining operational efficiency.

If you’re looking for a trusted partner to optimize your wastewater and process waste streams, Koch Modular has the experience and expertise to deliver solutions that work.

Chat with Tom

Tom Schafer is a chemical engineer with 48 years of experience in process design, operations management, cost estimating, plant layout, and sales & marketing—specific expertise in equipment design, including distillation, heat transfer, fluid flow, and process control. Tom holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College.

Email: thomas.schafer@kochmodular.com

Tom Schafer, Koch Modular, Co-founder & Vice President

The post Optimizing Benzene Stripping for Petrochemical Wastewater Streams appeared first on Koch Modular Process System.

Ensuring the effective removal of contaminants from wastewater has become imperative, especially with the proliferation of ammonia-intensive decarbonization methods. Mining operations, spurred by the need for critical minerals and metals in energy production and storage, have heightened ammonia content in wastewater streams. Likewise, converting livestock waste into renewable fuels contributes to elevated ammonia levels in wastewater. Rising operational expenses, aging infrastructure, the emergence of contaminants such as PFAS, and stringent regulatory standards compound this challenge.

Steam stripping and solvent extraction are two technologies that can be used for efficiently removing challenging contaminants from wastewater across diverse conditions to achieve tangible operational and cost benefits

Understanding Steam Stripping

Steam stripping, alternatively referred to as steam distillation, presents an economically viable approach to eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater. Compounds amenable to stripping typically exhibit lower boiling points than water, form azeotropes with water, or demonstrate partial solubility in water. These contaminants encompass a range of substances, including alcohols, dioxane, chlorinated hydrocarbons, BTX aromatics (benzene-toluene-xylene), aliphatics, acetates, THF, ethers, ketones, acetonitrile, and ammonia. However, for more complex containments, other separation methods must be explored.

Exploring Solvent Extraction

Solvent extraction offers an effective and economically viable approach for eliminating stubborn wastewater contaminants with boiling points higher than water or without volatility. This method proves especially advantageous in scenarios where the energy expenses linked with distillation or evaporation are considerable. Contaminants conducive to extraction cover a broad spectrum, including carboxylic acids, metal ions, quaternary ammonium cations, phenolic compounds, DMF, DMAC, pyridines, aniline, nitrotoluenes, and organofluorines such as PFAS.

Join William and Kyle for their poster session, “Strategies for Effective Industrial Wastewater Purification,” on Monday, June 17, at 4:00 pm EST at the 2024 TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Exposition. And, visit Koch Modular at booth #606 to connect with our team of engineers.

Koch Modular will be presenting on a variety of topics at this year’s event. Explore more of our TechConnect presentations HERE.

Can’t make it to the conference? Join our on-demand webinar.

Chat with William

William Gallei is a process engineer with Koch Modular. He has over 12 years of experience in the chemical and petrochemical industry and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College.

Email: william.gallei@kochmodular.com

William Gallei, Process Engineer

Chat with Kyle

Kyle Parkinson is a process engineer with Koch Modular and has over 11 years of experience in the chemical and petrochemical industry, with a recent focus on liquid-liquid extraction. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Bucknell University.

Email: kyle.parkinson@kochmodular.com

Kyle Parkinson, Process Engineer

The post TechConnect Spotlight: Industrial Wastewater Purification appeared first on Koch Modular Process System.

Join Koch Modular at the AIChE 2023 Spring Meeting and 19th Global Congress on Process Safety in Houston, Texas, March 12-16, 2023, as our industry experts share their expertise on separation technology and applications within the chemical processing industry. 

At this year’s convention, Koch Modular Principal Extraction Engineer, Brendan Cross, will discuss the advantages of solvent extraction to extract contaminants from industrial wastewater streams on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, at 10:15 am CST in room 343B at the Hilton Americas.

“The Global Water Crisis continues to push the chemical processing industry to engineer efficient processes to recycle wastewater,” said Cross. “We’re excited to share our unique expertise and discuss the economic benefits of applying solvent extraction to remove contaminants from industrial wastewater,” Cross added. 

Our experienced engineers are ready to discuss the challenges associated with designing complex separation processes for optimal product recovery and purification.

Stop by booth #226 to chat with one of our experienced engineers. 

Read the full abstract HERE.

Chat with Brendan
Brendan Cross is a Principal Extraction Engineer at Koch Modular that works in the Extraction Technology Group. Brendan is responsible for liquid-liquid extraction application evaluation, extraction process development, and pilot test design, extraction column design, and commissioning & process startup. He has been with Koch Modular for 15 years and also has substantial experience in distillation and process design. Brendan holds a BS in chemical engineering from Columbia University.

Email: brendan.cross@kochmodular.com

Direct: 201-267-8983

The post Koch Modular to Discuss Solvent Extraction as an Application to Remove Contaminants from Wastewater at AIChE Spring Meeting and 19th Global Congress on Process Safety appeared first on Koch Modular Process System.