Abstract

LAGO, JUAN; FERNANDEZ, JOSÉ  and  DIAZ, DAGLES. minimización de los residuos provenientes de la regeneración de las Resinas de las Plantas Desmineralizadoras del crp-amuay. Rev. Fac. Ing. UCV [online]. 2005, vol.20, n.4, pp.43-54. ISSN 0798-4065.

Due to the deficiency of the water supply in Falcón State, a study on the reuse of processed water was carried out at Amuay Refinery. It was based on the waste reduction of the demineralization plants (DMAY-2/3). In the first stage of the study, the current regeneration process was evaluated to determine which steps-effluents could be reused without requiring any treatment. As a result, it was determined that two steps-effluents of cationic exchangers of DMAY-2 and also two stepseffluents from those of DMAY-3 can be reused. In addition, two steps-effluents of anionic exchangers of DMAY-2 can be reused as well. The best alternative where those steps-effluents could be applied is recovered water tanks in each plant DMAY-2/3, to be later supplied to the plants of hot-softening (WZAY-2/3). Reusing those steps-effluents might lead to f Bs. 41.7 MM a year. In the case of the steps-effluents that could not be recovered, it was determined that reverse osmosis is the best technological option available. The treatment of the content of the neutralization tanks will be carried out by means of two plants (each plant a tank), until the same or even a better quality of raw water is obtained. The wastewater from the reverse osmosis plants will be dropped directly into Amuay Bay since it fulfills what it is established in the applicable regulation. In conclusion, the recommended alternatives for water recovery allow us to minimize the waste coming from the regenerations up to 70%, it means, 125 GPM out of the original 420 GPM will now be discarded.

Keywords : water; recovery,; ionic exchange; regeneration; desalination; reverse osmosis.