PERF Selects Siemens to Pilot MBR Technology on Treating Refinery Wastewater

Members of PERF (Petroleum Environmental Research Forum) have selected Siemens Water Technologies to provide a Petro MBR (membrane bioreactor) pilot unit to test the viability of such technology in treating refinery wastewater. This will be one of the first full scale operational MBR processes for treating refinery wastewater in the world, according to Siemens. The results of this pilot testing will be used to determine the effectiveness and robustness of MBR treatment compared to conventional biological treatment on these types of wastewater. The commercially-sized Petro MBR pilot unit will run for six to nine months at a PERF site in Baton Rouge, La.

Designed to meet the goals of petroleum and chemical industry operators with flexibility and ease of operation, the Petro MBR system combines an activated sludge biological treatment process with an innovative membrane filtration system. A unique fluid renewal process evenly distributes liquid, solids and air within the membrane modules in the system. The system is ideally suited to a wide range of refinery, petrochemical and production water treatment applications including water reuse, upgrades, retrofits and compliance-driven projects, Siemens said.

PERF was established in 1986 to stimulate cooperative research and development
of technology for environmental pollution control and waste treatment for the petroleum industry.