Developed by Merichem Technologies, 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