Physico chemical characterization of refinery sludge and biodegradability study

Abstract

This thesis consists broadly of the following three chapters i) Introduction, ii) Objectives and Methodology and iii) Results and discussion along with a list of bibliography. Chapter 1- The first chapter gives an account of the historical background of the discovery of oil, the theory of its formation with a list of oil reserves and its production and consumption in different parts of the world. Generation of sludges in refineries, their classification, impact on environment, common sludge management practices and regulations affecting refineries have also been cited in this chapter. Different sludge handling procedures such as source control, pretreatment, recovery of oil from sludge and treatment and final disposal along with a list of the existing sludge disposal methods of a few refineries have also been given in this chapter. Since the focal point of the present work is the biodegradation study of oil and grease in sludges so, biotreatment practice such as natural degradation through hand farming, biodegradation through inoculation of external bacterial strains and degradation of sludge by cultivation (phytoremediation) including role of heavy metals in cultivation along with mechanisms of biodegradation have been dealt with at length in this chapter. This chapter is basically a review of literature on the topics related to different sludge handling practices and management procedures adopted in the refineries in India and abroad. This chapter finally includes the corporate history of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, a brief review of Guwahati refinery-its processing units, other existing units, utility units, product generation, vision and environmental policy, crude and other products storage facility, product characteristics, sludge generation and sludge management status of Guwahati refinery. Chapter2 - This chapter covers the objectives of the study, which are 1. Physico-chemical characterization of various types of sludges generated in Guwahati refinery with respect to pH, conductivity (electrical),...