Investigation of chemical quality, oil and metal contamination of surface waters at Shazand Refinery and Distribution Complex, Arak, Iran
Subject Areas : Industrial pollution
Abdorreza Vaezihir
1
(
Professor, Earth Scirnces Dept., Faculty of Natural Sciences, Univerity of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Corresponding author
)
Mohammad Ranjdoust Yamchi
2
(
MSc. Student of environmental geology, Dept., Faculty of Natural Sciences, Univerity of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
)
Ali Kadkhodaie
3
(
Professor, Earth Scirnces Dept., Faculty of Natural Sciences, Univerity of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
)
Alireza Gholmohammadi
4
(
MSc. Student of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
)
Keywords: hydrochemical, Shazand Refinery, runoff, hydrocarbon material,
Abstract :
Background and Purpose: Pollution of surface water by hydrocarbon compounds released from the refineries, storage tanks and convay pipline is very possible and need to be addressed with high sensitivity. Purpose of this study is investigation of contamination and hydrochemical properties of runoff waters at Shazand refinery. Water samples collected and analysed for major ions and oil and metal contaminants. Research method: Twoelve samples were collected from surface waters of the refinery and were analyzed for oil materials, some heavy metals, nutrients and major ions. Some other parameters like EC and pH were meseared in situe. Findings: According to the results, the runoff in some parts of the refinery shows contamination by benzene. Ethylbenzene concentration, however, is less than maximum permissible level and no evidence of MTBE and toluene was detected. Discussion and conclusion: Pollution by benzene can be due to pollutants released from the refining process and spilling of oil. A part of BTEX pollutants in surface water can be came from atmospheric washout during precipitation. No evidents of MTBE detected in the samples. It should be mentioned that BTEX and MTBE are volatile components and cannot be survived in surface water for a long time. Chemical parameters such as EC and ions concentaration in the surface water in the central area of the refinery shows an anomaly which would be related to the industrial activites. The runoff of this part of the refinery is less suitable for industrial and agricultural usges.
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