Overview
Emerging Technologies…
…and Approaches to Minimize Discharges into Lake Michigan
A collaborative project of the Purdue University Calumet Water Institute and
Argonne National Laboratory
Challenge:
As industries advance important expansion/developmental initiatives, they
face a technological challenge of balancing growth with environmental
responsibility and compliance with regulatory legislation aimed at protecting
the Great Lakes. Pollution control technologies that are sustainable over the
long term need to be identified to ensure both economic viability of industry
investment and environmental protection.
Energy company BP is planning a $3.8 billion expansion and modernization of its
Whiting, Ind., refinery to process more Canadian heavy crude oil. Determining
ways to reduce pollutant discharges from the treatment of this new crude oil
below future regulatory limits requires the exploration and assessment of
emerging technologies that go beyond currently adopted technological options.
Thus, BP has provided the impetus and funding for this study. Scope:
Working collaboratively, the Purdue Calumet Water Institute and Argonne
National Laboratory seek to identify emerging technologies that may be used to
control discharges from refinery processes. Specifically, technologies are
sought that allow:
increased removal of ammonia and total suspended solids (TSS) from refinery
wastewater derived in processing more Canadian crude, and
advanced reduction/removal of mercury, vanadium and other heavy metals from
industrial wastewater to meet future, stringent regulatory limits.
This project requires not only screening and identifying technologies for this
purpose, but also conducting a comparative analysis of related discharge issues
that may help policymakers better understand and address environmental concerns.
This project also will help technology developers better identify the most
pressing needs for new technologies.
Ultimately, satisfactory completion of this project will provide greater
understanding about the applicability, reliability and sustainability of
emerging technologies to address relevant wastewater treatment needs.
Short Term (through June 2008) Tasks
Screen emerging technologies in response to immediate desires of the BP
Whiting Refinery to reduce discharges of ammonia and total suspended solids
after refinery modernization.
Develop a database that includes discharge sources for the lower portion of
the Lake Michigan basin.
Longer Term (through November 2009) Tasks
Identify emerging technologies for use in helping BP’s Whiting Refinery
meet limits specified by its new discharge permit being implemented in 2012.
Specifically, technologies are needed for use in the removal of such
contaminants as mercury to meet the new permit limit of 1.3 ppt monthly average.
Expand the discharge database to cover the entire Lake Michigan basin.
To view our project scope in more detail, please click here.
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