Management of Hazardous Waste Generated from the Natural Gas Sweetening Process in Gas Refineries (Case Study: South Pars Phases 9 and 10)
Keywords:
hazardous waste management, gas sweetening, refinery, nanocomposite membraneAbstract
The aim of this study was to manage hazardous waste generated from the natural gas sweetening process in gas refineries using PEBAX nanocomposite membrane technology. In this regard, data related to the type, quantity, and characteristics of the waste produced in the Fifth South Pars Gas Refinery were collected and classified over a 12-month period by the HSE unit. Based on the data analysis, spent amine solutions were identified as the most significant source of hazardous waste generation. To control this source at its origin, the PEBAX membrane technology was considered as an innovative method to replace part of the amine absorption process, thereby reducing the acidic gas load and decreasing the need for frequent regeneration or replacement of the amine solution, ultimately lowering hazardous waste production. For technical evaluation of this approach, the geometric model of the membrane module was designed in COMSOL Multiphysics and simulated using the Transport of Diluted Species and Laminar Flow modules. In this model, the effects of parameters such as pressure, temperature, and membrane layer thickness on the transfer rate of CO₂ and H₂S gases were examined. Simulation results indicated that the PEBAX nanocomposite membrane has a high capacity for acidic gas separation and can effectively contribute to hazardous waste management by reducing pollutant load in the feed gas stream. The findings suggest that employing this technology, alongside appropriate managerial policies, can provide an effective strategy for minimizing waste generation at the source and enhancing the environmental performance of the country’s gas refineries.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ataollah Ghasemi (Author); Saber Ghasemi; Mohsen Dehghani Ghanatghestani, Vali Alipour (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
