ABSTRACT
Thevolumetricflowofeffluentfromoneofourfinechemicalssitesisaround400m3hr"1,peaking toabout1600m3hr"1understormconditions.Theeffluentissubstantiallyaqueousandacidicin nature,butitisrecognisedthatonmulti-purposechemicalplants,immiscible,flammablesolvents inevitablyfindtheirwayintothesitedrains.Whilsttheplantsallhaveinterceptorstominimise lossestodrain,theeffluenttreatmentplanthashadtobedesignedtotreatsuchsolventsbefore dischargefromthesite.Asmanyoftheimmisciblesolventsusedatthesitearehighlyflammable andelectricallyinsulating,thepotentialforthegenerationandaccumulationofelectrostatic chargeontheimmisciblephasewasrecognisedandtheeffluenttreatmentplantwasdesignedto accommodatethisinafashionthatwouldallowsafeoperation.
