Wet Air Oxidation

One Stop solution for your spent caustic treatment

02 Wet Air Oxidation

Building on expertise
Introduction

WAO
Since 1970, Linde Engineering has successfully executed several projects for the treatment of
spent caustic effluents using a Wet Air Oxidation (WAO) process. This applies to the streams
Linde’s generated from Refinery and Petrochemical complexes, prior to sending them to common effluent
treatment unit.
technology since 1970
Linde is committed to provide its technology from concept to commissioning. Linde designs,
supplies, constructs and provides after sales service for spent caustic treatment plants. Today,
Linde is one of the leading global end to end solution provider for such plants.

Based on the environmental regulations, Linde selects either of the following process
configurations to minimize investment and optimize operating cost.

→ Low Pressure Process for treatment of spent caustic upto <10 wt PPM of sulphides
→ Medium Pressure Process for treatment of spent caustic upto <1 wt PPM of sulphides

Further, Linde is experienced and has dealt with virtually every kind of spent caustic streams
generated from:
Petrochemical Refinery
→ Ethylene Plant → Merox Unit
→ PDH Plant → Isomerization Unit
→ DHDT and Hydrocracker Unit
→ Propylene Recovery Unit
→ Gasoline/Jet/Kerosene/LPG treating Unit

Lowest CAPEX The WAO process for spent caustic treatment comprises of following process steps:
– Spent Caustic Storage tank to collect various continuous and intermediate streams with

and optimised OPEX residence time for settling and skimming of hydrocarbons.
– Feed preheater to increase the desired reaction temperature of the feed stream.
with standardised plant solutions – Oxidation reactor enables treatment of spent caustic using plant air and steam.
– Off Gas Cooler and activated carbon package (optional) to release vent gases for safe disposal.
– Neutralization section to maintain pH before routing treated spent caustic to effluent treatment
plant.
– COD reduction package (optional) based on project specifications.

Linde Wet Air Oxidation Process

Off-Gas Vent

Off-Gas

WAO Off-Gas Cooler Activated Carbon

Reactor Filter
Compressed Air Stream Oxidized
Caustic H2 SO4
Vent

Spent Oxidized Neutralization

Caustic Caustic Drum
To COD
reduction
CWS
TSS Filter
Spent Caustic
Re-circulation CWR
Storage Feed Spent
Caustic Steam
COD Reactor
Feed Spent Caustic
Pre-heater Cooler
Charge Pump Re-circulation Pump Treated Caustic
to WWTP
 Wet Air Oxidation 03

Fact Sheet of Line Process Concepts

Features

No.of Equipment *
Linde Spent Caustic
LP Oxidation

6-8
Linde Spent Caustic
MP Oxidation

8-12
Maximum
availability of plant operation

Operating Pressure 7 barg 35 barg

Operating Temperature 125°C 200°C

Residence Time 480 min (average) 70 min (average)

Feed/Effluent Heat Yes No

Reactor Material CS, SS316L (internals) Alloy 600

Na 2S as S2 - <10wt ppm <1w ppm

Options
for low and medium
Utilities LP steam, air, CW, MP steam, air, CW, pressures processes
H2 SO4 H2 SO4 , N2
*Depends on process concept selection and scope of work

Advantages of Linde Wet Air Oxidation Process

Environmental Regulation Compliance

Units are designed to meet environmental regulations both upto <10 wt PP < or < 1 wt PPM of
Sulphides.

High Operational Reliability

Measured by the cumulative experience gained in the operation of spent caustic units. All plants
installed since 1970 are still in operation with the exception of facilities that have closed.

Lowest Operating Cost

Linde’s WAO process offers optimised operating cost at minimum Capex with low pressure process.

Prefabricated Modules
To reduce construction costs and logistics efforts, these units are offered in modularized skids.
3m³ /hr spent caustic treatment plant for
Indorama ventures Olefins LLC, Lousiana, USA

Execution Concept: Pre-fabricated

standardized modules

→ Resulting in faster execution which adhers to

schedule
→ Improved quality and safety
→ Reduced engineering effort and construction cost
→ Limited period of site construction, minimize the
site activities
→ To avoid logistic challenges, containerize skids can
be offered for special project locations
→ Modular units compliant to codes and standards
such as ASME, CE, KGS, etc.

10m³/hr spent caustic treatment plant for IOCL, Vadodara Refinery, India
Collaborate. Innovate. Deliver.

Linde’s Engineering Division is a leading player in the international plant engineering business. Across the globe, we have
delivered more than 4,000 plants and cover every step in the design, project management and construction of turnkey
industrial facilities. Our proven process and technology know-how plays an indispensable role in the success of our customers
across multiple industries – from crude oil, natural gas extraction and refining to chemical and metal processing.

At Linde, we value trusted, lasting business relationships with our customers. We listen carefully and collaborate closely with
you to meet your needs. This connection inspires us to develop innovative process technologies and equipment at our high-
tech R&D centres, labs and pilot plants – designed in close collaboration with our strategic partners and delivered with passion
by our employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide.

From the desert to the Arctic, from small- to world-scale, from standardised to customised builds, our specialists develop plant
solutions that operate reliably and cost-effectively under all conditions.
You can always rely on us to deliver the solutions and services that best fit your needs – anywhere in the world.

Discover how we can contribute to your success at www.linde-engineering.in

Core competencies at a glance

Plant engineering Component manufacturing Services

→ Air separation plants → Coldboxes and modules → Revamps and plant modifications
→ LNG and natural gas processing plants → Coil-wound heat exchangers → Plant relocations
→ Petrochemical plants → Plate-fin heat exchangers → Spare parts
→ Hydrogen and synthesis gas plants → Cryogenic columns → Operational support, troubleshooting
→ Chemical plants → Cryogenic storage tanks and immediate repairs
→ Adsorption plants → Liquefied helium tanks and containers → Long-term service contracts
→ Cryogenic plants → Air-heated vaporisers → Expert reviews for plants, operations
→ Carbon capture and utilisation plants → Water bath vaporisers and spare part inventory
→ Furnaces, fired heaters, incinerators → Spiral-welded aluminium pipes → Operator training

PT Linde Indonesia Linde Engineering (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd Linde Engineering India Pvt.Ltd.
Jakarta, Indonesia Petaling Jaya Vadodara, Gujarat, India
+61 214601793 +603 7947 2635 Phone: +91.265.3056789
leidsales@linde.com lemysales@linde.com Fax: +91.265.2335213
india@linde.com

Linde AG, Engineering Division Linde AG - Iran Branch Linde Engineering Middle East LCC
Pullach, Germany Tehran, Iran Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Phone +49 89 7445-0 Phone +98 21 22664548 Phone +971 2 698-1400
Fax +49 89 7445-4908 Fax +98 21 22664557 Fax +971 2 698-1499
info@linde-le.com linde_iran.info@linde.com leme@linde.com

Linde Engineering North America Linde Engineering Rus, OOO Linde Engineering Korea Ltd.
Houston, TX, USA Samara, Russia Seoul, Republic of Korea
Phone +1.281.717-9090,+1.281.717-9091 Phone +7 846 331-3355 Phone +82 2780-0952
sales@leamericas.com le.rus@linde-le.com Fax +82 2780-0958
hanyong.lee@linde.com

Linde Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.

“Linde House”, Opp. VUDA Office, V.I.P. Road Karelibaug, Vadodara
Phone: +91.265.3056.789, Fax: +91.265.2461.757, india@linde.com, www.linde-engineering.in