Title: Incineration of hazardous wastes from the petroleum industry in Nigeria

Authors: O.O. Bello, J.A. Sonibare, S.R.A. Macaulay, A.O. Okelana, A.O. Durojaiye

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Abstract: Persistent hazardous wastes are produced in the recovery, processing and upgrading of crude petroleum in Nigeria. However, recent developments in environmental pollution control are drawing increasing attention to the problems of hazardous wastes. The ever-increasing need to control these wastes from the petroleum industry often compels the chemical engineer to specify methods of treatment and disposal. Present methods for disposal are becoming increasingly undesirable for a number of reasons, and incineration is being considered as an alternative. This paper reviews the extent of hazardous waste generation from the Nigerian petroleum industry and its environmental implications. It also examines the current disposal methods and the incineration technology option. The major chemical engineering concepts of the incineration process and the principles guiding their operations are discussed. The potential for the use of incineration is examined, as well as information that would aid the choice of incineration system for new applications.

Keywords: hazardous wastes; incineration; petroleum industry; Nigeria; environmental pollution control; chemical engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.006047

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.22 No.6, pp.710 - 720

Published online: 27 Jan 2005 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article