Grantee Research Project Results
A Membrane-Based Process for the Removal of BTEX from Glycol Dehydration Vents
EPA Contract Number: 68D50091Title: A Membrane-Based Process for the Removal of BTEX from Glycol Dehydration Vents
Investigators: Ray, Rod
Small Business: Bend Research Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through March 1, 1996
Project Amount: $65,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Air Quality and Air Toxics
Description:
A major source of volatile organic compound emissions into the environment is the vent stream from the glycol-based dehydration units used to remove water from natural gas. A glycol dehydration unit operating on a 50-million SCFD natural gas stream will typically discharge more than 40 tons per year of various hazardous volatile organic air pollutants - about half of which is "BTEX" (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes).Bend Research, Inc., proposes to develop a simple and efficient membrane-based system that can be retrofited to the conventional vent condensers currently used to reduce emissions from glycol dehydrators. This process will be based on a hollow-fiber pervaporation module that enables the use of a unique system design that eliminates the problematic wastewater stream produced by conventional condenser systems, while also recovering the BTEX. In Phase I, they will fabricate small modules and operate them in a bench-scale apparatus. A design based on the results of these tests, as well as an economic assessment of this technology will provide the basis for a decision to proceed into the Phase II program. By the end of Phase II, they will have field-tested this process in combination with a conventional condenser system.
Supplemental Keywords:
Air, Scientific Discipline, Water, Toxics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, 33/50, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Wastewater, air toxics, Environmental Engineering, emission control strategies, membrane technology, benzene, BTEX, wastewater discharges, membrane filtration, chemical contaminants, Toluene, aqueous waste stream, membrane-based, air pollutants, wastewater treatment, VOCs, membrane technology , air pollution, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Xylenes, natural gas, glycol dehydration ventsProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
A Membrane-Based Process for the Removal of BTEX from Glycol Dehydration VentsThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.