Power Energy Gulf treats spent caustic for refineries and petrochemical plants in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. We assess the stream, recommend the right treatment route, and deliver it with skid-mounted units that can be rented, rented to own or operated by our team. Where it applies, we also recover caustic and useful salts from petrochemical wastewater.
What Is Spent Caustic?
Spent caustic is sodium hydroxide solution that has been used to wash sulfur compounds, carbon dioxide and other acid components out of refinery and petrochemical streams. Once used up, it is no longer fit for reuse. Depending on where it comes from, it can carry sulfides, mercaptans, phenols and organic acids, and it often has high COD and a strong odor.
Why It Needs Specialist Treatment
- It is hazardous and cannot be discharged untreated.
- It frequently carries hydrocarbons, phenol and BTEX alongside the caustic itself.
- Hauling it away for disposal is expensive and adds transport risk.
- Upsets and turnarounds can create volumes a plant is not set up to handle.
How We Approach Spent Caustic
- Characterize the stream. We identify the type of spent caustic and what it contains.
- Site study and pilot testing. A site survey and, where needed, a demonstration or pilot test.
- Evaluate the options. Options are compared on performance, reliability, economics and life cycle cost.
- Engineer the solution. A process design and engineering package, with documentation to support MOC, HAZOP and PSSR.
- Deliver and support. Installation support, site operation and maintenance support, and troubleshooting if needed.
Mobile and Rental Treatment Units
Our rental fleet handles spent caustic among the contaminants it treats, including BTEX, VOCs and SVOCs, oil and grease, hydrocarbons, TSS, TDS, TOC, COD and BOD, ammonia, phenol and glycol. Units are skid mounted and modular, with inlet and outlet connections for immediate field piping, so they can be on line quickly for planned work, turnarounds, emergency shutdowns and upset conditions. See our mobile treatment units for the full fleet specification.
Caustic and Salt Recovery
For petrochemical wastewater, we recover caustic and useful salts rather than treating them purely as waste. Recovery reduces the quantity that has to be treated or disposed of, and returns value to the plant.
Spent Caustic Together with BTEX
Spent caustic streams often contain benzene and other BTEX. Where that is the case, our benzene and BTEX removal process can be combined with caustic treatment under one scope.
Industries Served
Refineries, petrochemical and chemical plants including olefins and aromatics, gas processing and LNG, fertilizer plants, aluminum, steel, mining and power plants across Saudi Arabia and the GCC.
Related Services
See our wastewater treatment and VOC removal and emission control services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is spent caustic?
Spent caustic is used sodium hydroxide solution from washing sulfur compounds, carbon dioxide and other acid components out of refinery and petrochemical streams. It can carry sulfides, phenols and organic acids and is hazardous.
Can spent caustic be discharged directly?
No. It is hazardous and must be treated or disposed of in line with the plant and regulatory requirements.
Can you treat spent caustic on site?
Yes. Our mobile skid-mounted units can be rented, rented to own or operated by us, and mobilized to your site.
Do you recover caustic from wastewater?
Yes, we recover caustic and useful salts from petrochemical wastewater, which reduces the quantity that has to be treated or disposed of.
What information do you need?
Send us the spent caustic source, volume, and what it contains (sulfides, phenols, hydrocarbons, COD if known), plus the discharge or disposal requirement you must meet.
Do you treat BTEX in spent caustic?
Yes. Where the stream contains benzene or other BTEX, we can combine BTEX removal with the caustic treatment.
Get a Response Within 24 Hours
Send us the spent caustic stream details, volume and contaminants for a treatment recommendation. Call or WhatsApp +966 56 278 9535 or email sales@powerenergy.com.co. Power Energy is based in Jubail Industrial City and supplies industrial customers across Saudi Arabia and the GCC.