Treatment Solutions for Processing Spent Caustics

MERICON I, II, III | Treatment Solutions

Developed by Merichem®, MERICON I, II and III are on-site treatment technologies used in the processing of spent caustics for BOD/COD reduction, odor control and/or pH adjustment.

These solutions employ either oxidation or acidification—along with the option of final neutralization—to yield a neutral brine effluent stream acceptable for disposal to wastewater treating facilities, evaporation ponds or waterways.

MERICON I Advantages

  • Best for sulfidic spent caustics treatment with less demanding COD specs
  • Oxidizes sulfides to sulfate and thiosulfate; oxidizes mercaptides to disulfide oils
  • Reduces chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 75%
  • Low pressure and temperature operation allows the use of stainless steel, reducing capital expenses
  • Uses plant air—no dedicated air compressors required—reducing operating expenses

MERICON II Advantages

  • Effective in treating all mixed refinery and ethylene caustics, including naphthenic and phenolic caustics, to low COD specifications
  • Oxidizes spent caustics at high pressures (30-100 barg) and temperatures (200° – 300° C) to reduce COD by 98+%.
  • Oxidizes all sulfides and thiosulfates to sulfates; destroys phenolics, naphthenics and mercaptides depending on oxidation temperature.
  • Effective in treating sulfidic caustics at low pressures and temperatures, and in treating mixed refinery caustics, including naphthenic caustics at higher pressures and temperatures
  • Non-catalyst process
  • Minimum contaminates in the final brine

MERICON III Advantages

  • Best for treating sulfidic and naphthenic spent caustics
  • Acidifies all spent caustics at low pressures and temperatures, releasing most high COD impurities from caustic; reduces COD by 90-95%
  • Allows recapture of organic compounds (naphthenates and phenolics) if advantageous
  • Flexible operation managing varying compositions and quantities of spent caustic in a timely and responsible manner
  • Proven technology for removal of naphthenates in caustic streams

MERICON I, II, III Applications

  • Refinery Spent Caustics
  • Ethylene Spent Caustics
  • Other Spent Caustic Streams

Chemical Oxidation Advantages

  • Best for destroying phenolics and lowering COD for smaller streams in spent caustics
  • Uses hydrogen peroxide and an iron catalyst
  • Can be added to MERICON I, II and III as needed to meet product specs

We offer multiple solutions for handling spent caustic:

REGEN® | Spent Caustic Regeneration

Regeneration and reuse of caustic solution during the mercaptan extraction process.

About REGEN »

Spent Caustic Management

Removes spent caustic products safely and reliably from your facility for beneficial reuse.

About Spent Caustic Management »

How It Works

MERICON I, II and III use on-site neutralization and/or oxidation on sulfidic and organic spent caustics to produce a neutral brine effluent stream. Afterwards, the stream can be routed to wastewater treating facilities, evaporation ponds or waterways. If technology is not your solution for spent caustic regeneration or neutralization, Merichem® also offers spent caustic management services that allow you to ship your caustic as non‑hazardous waste.

History of Innovation

For nearly 75 years, Merichem® has provided proven spent caustic services and processing technologies to oil and gas industry leaders. Our reputation for innovation, expertise and dedication to customer service continue to be unsurpassed.

Extensive Capabilities

To every challenge, we bring a comprehensive suite of capabilities to help our customers address their treatment issues. Whether it’s licensing technology, guidance, design, engineering, fabrication, testing or implementation, Merichem® can apply the right resources, when and where they’re needed.

Proven Flexibility, Global Reach

All over the world, Merichem® has helped customers address some of their most challenging treating problems with extensive capabilities and a flexible array of supply‑chain options.

We have licensed more than 35 MERICON units worldwide

MERICON
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North America

  • 5 AMINEX Units
  • 21 AQUAFINING Units
  • 126 LO-CAT® Units
  • 70 MERICAT Units
  • 13 MERICAT II / J Units
  • 2 MERICON Units
  • 19 NAPFINING Units
  • 26 REGEN® Units
  • 153 THIOLEX Units
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South America

  • 3 AMINEX Units
  • 14 AQUAFINING Units
  • 8 LO-CAT® Units
  • 4 MERICAT Units
  • 6 MERICAT II / J Units
  • 8 MERICON Units
  • 12 NAPFINING Units
  • 8 REGEN® Units
  • 26 THIOLEX Units
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Europe

  • 6 AMINEX Units
  • 23 AQUAFINING Units
  • 29 LO-CAT® Units
  • 21 MERICAT Units
  • 10 MERICAT II / J Units
  • 5 MERICON Units
  • 14 NAPFINING Units
  • 6 REGEN® Units
  • 43 THIOLEX Units
x

Africa

  • 1 AQUAFINING Units
  • 3 LO-CAT® Units
  • 1 MERICAT Units
  • 1 MERICAT II / J Units
  • 4 NAPFINING Units
  • 1 REGEN® Units
  • 2 THIOLEX Units
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Asia

  • 18 AMINEX Units
  • 44 AQUAFINING Units
  • 52 LO-CAT® Units
  • 59 MERICAT Units
  • 22 MERICAT II / J Units
  • 20 MERICON Units
  • 32 NAPFINING Units
  • 20 REGEN® Units
  • 121 THIOLEX Units
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Australia

  • 2 AQUAFINING Units
  • 9 LO-CAT® Units
  • 2 MERICON Units
  • 2 NAPFINING Units
  • 1 THIOLEX Units