Membrane Technology Aids Refinery Wastewater for Advanced Treatment
Membrane technology and other advanced wastewater treatment methods have provided effective solutions to reduce water usage in the petrochemical industry, one of China's six key sectors for energy conservation and emission reduction. According to a recent seminar on the application of third-generation membrane separation technology in the petroleum and chemical industry, which concluded on the 7th, Chinese refining and chemical companies now have average fresh water consumption and wastewater discharge levels that are close to global standards. Some enterprises even exceed international benchmarks.
Qiao Yingbin, a researcher at Sinopec’s Bureau of Scientific and Technological Development, noted that fresh water consumption and sewage discharge per ton of crude oil are critical indicators of refining efficiency. The global standard is 0.5 tons of fresh water and 0.3 tons of wastewater per ton of oil. In 2000, domestic refineries consumed about 2.4 tons of fresh water and discharged 1.8 tons of wastewater per ton of oil—nearly five and six times higher than the international standard, respectively. By 2007, these figures had dropped to 0.7–0.8 tons and 0.5 tons, bringing them closer to the global level. Zhenhai Refinery, for example, has surpassed the international standard with only 0.38 tons of fresh water used and 0.18 tons of wastewater discharged per ton of oil.
Refining wastewater is known for its complex composition, high organic content, and difficulty in biodegradation. It requires deep treatment to reduce pollutants such as COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), oil, and inorganic salts. Traditional biological methods often fail to meet the required standards, leaving high COD, BOD, and ammonia nitrogen levels. In contrast, membrane technologies like microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and membrane bioreactors effectively lower turbidity, oil content, COD, and sludge index. Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes further reduce hardness, alkalinity, and salt content.
As a result, the dual-membrane system (ultrafiltration + reverse osmosis) has become a preferred choice for petrochemical wastewater treatment due to its excellent effluent quality, ease of automation, compact footprint, and environmental benefits. In June 2004, Yanshan Petrochemical became the first in China to implement this technology for advanced wastewater treatment, achieving breakthroughs in using desalinated wastewater for boiler feed and transforming wastewater from discharge to reuse. Following this, companies such as Baling, Huizhou Dayawan, Karamay, Daqing, Qilu, and Dushanzi also adopted membrane systems to achieve deep purification of their wastewater. Treated water can now be directly reused in cooling towers and heat exchangers, significantly improving water resource efficiency.
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