Breakthrough progress has been made in the application of new environmental protection technologies for sulfur recovery at Sinopec

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This post was last edited by liaifeng on 2018-8-18 at 10:12. Breakthroughs achieved in the application of new environmental protection technologies for sulfur recovery at Sinopec. Author/Source: Date: 2017-06-30. Views: 215. On June 29, Sinopec’s news office announced that breakthroughs had been made in the use of new environmental protection technologies for sulfur recovery; these technologies enable a sulfur recovery rate of 99.99%, with sulfur dioxide emission levels below 100 milligrams per cubic meter, which represents an international leading standard. At present, this new technology has been successfully applied to over 200 sulfur processing units in China, solving the problem of meeting sulfur dioxide emission standards across the industry. It plays a positive role in promoting energy conservation and emission reduction throughout the industry as well as in reducing air pollution. It is estimated that a sulfur production facility with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons can reduce its sulfur dioxide emissions by 380 tons per year by applying this new technology. It is estimated that after the deployment of over 200 sulfur treatment units in China, annual sulfur dioxide emissions can be reduced by 60,000 tons, which is equivalent to a reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions from approximately 26 million vehicles meeting National IV emission standards per year. To date, this new environmental protection technology has led to the filing of over 60 domestic patents, and it has won 10 provincial and ministerial-level awards for scientific and technological achievements. It is also one of the 26 key technologies recognized by Sinopec Group. In the crude oil processing process, sulfur recovery units are essential; during their operation, some emissions of sulfur dioxide are inevitable. As environmental regulations become increasingly stringent, controlling sulfur dioxide emissions has become a key indicator of the level of environmental protection in production. In 2015, the **Ministry of Environmental Protection issued the ‘Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petroleum Refining Industry’**, requiring that as of July 1, 2017, limits on the concentration of sulfur dioxide emitted by sulfur processing units in China be established. In general areas, this limit was set at 400 milligrams per cubic meter, while in key areas it was set at 100 milligrams per cubic meter. Compared to the previous standard of 960 milligrams per cubic meter, the new standards resulted in reductions of 58% and 90% respectively in these two types of areas. As a company in Sinopec dedicated to the research and development of catalysts for sulfur recovery, Qilu Petrochemical successfully developed a new environmental-friendly technology for sulfur recovery in 2013. By enhancing the activity of catalysts, this technology increases the efficiency of sulfur recovery, thereby significantly reducing sulfur dioxide emissions. It offers clear advantages over the traditional alkali washing method used in the industry, in terms of being more environmentally friendly and cost-effective. To date, this new environmental protection technology has been successfully applied to over 200 sulfur processing units in China. Since the beginning of this year, another 24 local enterprises have signed technology transfer agreements with Qilu Petrochemical, covering more than 50 sulfur processing units. Liu Aihua, an expert from the Qilu Petrochemical Research Institute, said that in the next step, it is possible to raise the sulfur recovery rate to 99.995%, further improving the level of clean production in oil refining. In recent years, Qilu Petrochemical has adhered to Sinopec’s green and low-carbon development strategy, investing 1.3 billion yuan to actively implement the “Clear Waters and Blue Skies” project and to continue advancing efforts in energy conservation and environmental protection. The company’s ethylene wastewater treatment plant has set a new domestic record by operating at compliant standards for 2,440 consecutive days, while the rate of compliance for waste gas emissions has always remained at 100%. Additionally, this initiative has helped 158 local chemical enterprises ensure that their industrial wastewater is discharged in compliance with regulations.