This dissertation analyses the history of the politics of pollution and petroleum refining in South Africa during the first decade of Apartheid, focusing on the country's first two oil refineries, both of which were built by multinational oil companies in Durban in the 1950s and 60s. It traces the origins of the development of environmental regulation in relation to oil refinery pollution. The dissertation outlines the development of a sense of disillusionment caused by the persistence of pollution problems associated with petroleum refining in the face of failed attempts at technological and expert interventions. The study identifies the existence of a civic culture amongst Bluff residents founded on ratepayer and landowner identities, through which they were able to exercise considerable purchase on the local State. Ultimately, the story of how two petroleum refineries ended up in the midst of residential communities in south Durban's represents a reiteration of the importance of race to the development of local urban landscapes during Apartheid. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004

Orientador: Newton Muller Pereira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Resumo: A dissertação discute a influência da regulação ambiental na adoção de novas técnicas produtivas e na modificação de técnicas existentes na indústria de refino de petróleo, particularmente na Refinaria de Paulínia (REPLAN). Para isso, são caracterizadas as técnicas adotadas para adequar os processos de refino à regulação que controla impactos locais (relacionados à proteção de recursos como água, ar e solo) e as técnicas adotadas para produzir diesel e gasolina menos poluentes, outra exigência dos órgãos de regulação ambiental. A pesquisa caracteriza tecnologias adotadas na REPLAN no final da década de 90 e as medidas regulatórias relacionadas à sua adoção. Sob a ótica da economia evolucionista, que considera que a tecnologia evolui conjuntamente ao contexto sócio-econômico, a regulação ambiental é apresentada como um elemento contextual determinante da busca e seleção de tecnologias que permitam atender à regulação com rentabilidade econômica, sendo um fator determinante da adoção de novas técnicas na indústria de refino. Na REPLAN, verifica-se que a regulação ambiental trouxe a necessidade de volumosos investimentos para a adequação de processos e produtos aos padrões estabelecidos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T08:30:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Azevedo_AdalbertoMantovaniMartinianode_M.pdf: 6759046 bytes, checksum: ada10804a19c01ddefe8438412235e0c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Abstract: This dissertation discusses the influence of environmental regulation on the adoption of new production techniques and on the improvement of existing techniques in the refining petroleum industry, namely at the Paulínia Refinery (REPLAN). The dissertation describes the techniques adopted in order to fit refining processes into the regulation about environmental impacts (related to the protection of resources like water, air and soil), and also techniques adopted in order to produce less pollutant diesel and gasoline. The research characterizes technologies adopted in REPLAN at the end of the 90s and the regulatory measures related to the adoption of these techniques. The environmental regulation is presented under an evolutionary approach, considering that technology develops along whith the socio-economic context, the environmental regulation is a related element which determines the search and selection of technologies able to comply whith regulation ensuring economic viability. Regulation is also a determinant factor for the adoption of innovations in the refining industry. In REPLAN, the environmental regulation requires large investments in order to comply processes and products with the established standards / Mestrado / Mestre em Política Científica e Tecnológica

M.Tech. (Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology. / This thesis presents a slight on desulphurization process of the commercial diesel fuel using the carbon-based metal oxide nanocomposites such as graphene oxide, ZnO, rGO as a nano-adsorbent, activated carbon (PAC and AC) and charcoal Granular active carbon (GAC) to produce a fuel of less than 10 ppm sulphur content. Due to the high percentage of sulphur compounds in the fuel causing air pollution, acid rain and other problems related to combustion process. The synthesised of sorbents were achieved using incipient impregnation, microwaved-assisted and chemical exfoliation methods. The materials were characterized using Thermogrametric Analyzer (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET). The examination effect of operating conditions on the adsorption capacity with DBT and Sulphur compounds adsorption, the isotherms and the adsorption kinetic models were evaluated. The experimental data for PAC and AC were well suited to Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second-order kinetic models. The results shown that the sulphur feed concentration, the space velocity and the functional groups of the adsorbents have a considerable effect on the adsorption. In addition, it was observed that the temperature in the range of 30 to 80oC has a significant effect on the adsorption of Sulphur compounds from diesel fuel using 20 wt.% of sorbents. The rGO substrate which contained abundant oxygen functional groups was confirmed to promote the dispersion metal oxide and increased the adsorption efficiency of sulphur compounds (H2S and SO2) by providing oxygen ions weakly bound to the sulphur molecules. For the desulfurization process by adsorption, PAC and AC exhibited a better affinity for 80% removal of sulphur compared to the GAC and GO. The effects of metal species such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and reduced graphite oxide (rGO) composite on the adsorption capacity of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) were investigated. It was found that depending on the copper load, the adsorption capacity of H2S increased up to 20 times compared to pure ZnO. To study the oxidation changes on copper and zinc oxides, crystallite analysis by XRD and chemical state analysis by XPS were performed.

[pt] É constante o desafio das refinarias de petróleo na busca pela maximização da rentabilidade diante da natureza dinâmica das variáveis que afetam seus processos, como: demanda e especificações de produtos, qualidade de carga e preços de matéria-prima e derivados. Com a expectativa de mudanças nestas variáveis, um planejamento estratégico integrado para definir as necessidades de investimento em novas unidades de processo e ampliação de capacidade de unidades existentes pode contribuir para os melhores resultados do negócio de refino. Em face destas oportunidades e desafios, este trabalho propõe uma análise do planejamento de investimentos em refino, considerando o crescimento da demanda de diesel com ultra baixo teor de enxofre (S10) e também o crescimento plurianual da demanda de derivados, tendo como estudo de caso uma das maiores refinarias brasileiras. Como ferramenta de análise, foi utilizado um modelo matemático para planejamento integrado de refino de petróleo, que considera a otimização do planejamento operacional para definir as necessidades de investimento na refinaria, uma integração temporal, resultando em um modelo não linear inteiro misto (MINLP), cuja resolução utiliza uma lógica de decomposição em dois problemas integrados. Foi analisado o planejamento estratégico de refino, no horizonte de 19 anos e foram feitos vários cenários de demanda, com análises de sensibilidade para preços de petróleo e produtos, limite de importação e restrição de investimentos. Os resultados mostraram alinhamento com situação atual do mercado de derivados, com importação favorecida e com a expectativa de investimento mínimo em refino. / [en] It is a constant challenge for oil refineries the profitability maximization considering the dynamic nature of variables that affect their processes, such as demand and product specifications, feed quality and prices of raw materials and products. Expecting changes in such variables, an integrated strategic planning to define the needs for investment in new process units and capacity expansion of existing units can contribute to better results of the refining business. Given these opportunities and challenges, this dissertation proposes an analysis of refining investment planning, considering the increasing demand for ultralow sulfur diesel (S10) and also the multi-year growth of demand for oil products, performing a case study for one of the largest Brazilian refineries. As an analysis tool, it was used a mathematical model for integrated planning of oil refining, which considers the optimization of operational planning to set the investment needs in the refinery, a temporal integration, resulting in a mixed integer nonlinear model (MINLP), which resolution is based on a logic decomposition in two integrated problems. The strategic refining planning was analyzed on the 19 years horizon for different demand scenarios and some sensitivity analyses were carried out for oil and product prices, import limit and investment restrictions. The results were consistent with the current situation of the Brazilian derivatives market, characterized by favorable import and the minimum investment expected for refining.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Masters: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, 2017. / Constant change through global competition, technological advances and socio-economic improvement, permeates the contemporary environment in the world including certain African countries. Oil refineries are in constant progress with regards to modernisation and development. Many oil refineries all over the world are operating according to the expected scope of oil products to be produced and supplied, in line with the objectives of meeting domestic and international demand. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has one oil refinery only named Congolese Company of Oil Refining Industries (SOCIR), which has become less productive, uncompetitive, inefficient and unable to achieve its socio-economic roles or goals of supplying the country with oil products and of contributing to national socio-economic development. This study aimed to explore the socio-economic role of the petroleum refining industry in the DRC, through the case study of the SOCIR. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the factors affecting the socio-economic development in the DRC; identify the challenges experienced by SOCIR in the macro-environment; and explore the socio-economic effects the upgrading of SOCIR could have on the socio-economic situation in the DRC. In order to achieve these objectives, the study was undertaken as a quantitative survey combined with qualitative in-depth interviews to provide better understanding of the information obtained from the survey. The quantitative study was conducted on administrative personnel, academics, students, and public and private participants involved in the oil and gas industry in the DRC. Hundred participants were selected for the quantitative survey and five in-depth interviews were conducted to discuss the findings and results obtained through the quantitative study. The macro-environment variables of the PESTIE model were used to accomplish the aim and objectives of this study. The result of this study revealed that most factors affecting the socio-economic development of the DRC are related to the PESTIE instabilities, lack of economic diversity and constant national and regional ethnic or armed conflicts that are fuelled by multiple interests linked to natural mineral resources. The ageing of SOCIR infrastructure, the lack of financial capital and the lack of investments for human capital development were identified as the main challenges experienced by SOCIR. Furthermore, it was highlighted that if SOCIR upgraded with new efficient processing technology, it could increase its capacity of production, contribute on reducing the effects of total dependency on imports of all needs for petroleum products and prevent the country from exporting the total oil output, contribute on supplying the country with sufficient quality and quantity of clean oil products, and promote the oil and gas industry development and integration. The results of this study also indicated that SOCIR development could play a key role leading to economic diversity and growth with direct, indirect and induced impacts of massive job creation and contribute on reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality of many Congolese which are living under the poverty datum line. The study revealed that the outcome of the oil and gas industry integrated and developed through SOCIR modernisation strategy could steer the socio-economic change and transformation in the country. It is recommended to the government of DRC to constantly review, monitor and implement policies and regulations that could promote the oil and gas industry development in the country. The results of the study should also influence policy-makers and decision-makers on formulating innovative and creative policies, setting programmes, methods and interventions, which will enable the development of the oil and gas industry. / M

The effect of microwave radiation on the prepared 0.5Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts as a post-synthesis modification step was studied in the methanol-to-hydrocarbons process using the temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) technique. This was achieved by preparing a series of 0.5Fe/ZSM-5 based catalysts under varying microwave power levels (0–700 W) and over a 10 s period, after iron impregnating the HZSM-5 zeolite (Si/Al = 30 and 80). Physicochemical properties were determined by XRD, SEM, BET, FT-IR, C3H9N-TPSR, and TGA techniques. It was found that microwave radiation induced few changes in the bulk properties of the 0.5Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts, but their surface and catalytic behavior were distinctly changed. Microwave radiation enhanced crystallinity and mesoporous growth, decreased coke and methane formation, decreased the concentration of Brønsted acidic sites, and decreased surface area and micropore volume as the microwave power level was increased from 0 to 700 W. From the TPSR profiles, it was observed that microwave radiation affects the peak intensities of the produced hydrocarbons. Application of microwave radiation shifted the desorption temperatures of the MTH process products over the HZSM-5(30) and HZSM-5(80) based catalysts to lower and higher values respectively. The MeOH-TPSR profiles showed that methanol was converted to DME and subsequently converted to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. It is reasonable to suggest that microwave radiation would be an essential post-synthesis modification step to mitigate coke formation and methane formation and increase catalyst activity and selectivity. / Chemical Engineering / M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering)