Gulf Coast Environmental Systems

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PFAS as Emerging Contaminates: PFOA and PFOS

What are Perfluoroalkyl Substances?

PFOA & PFOSPerfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made, highly fluorine chemicals, that are getting a lot of attention as emerging contaminants. Though there are nearly 4,800 different types of perfluoroalkyl substances, there are two that are commonly focused on because of their use in everyday household products: areperfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. Perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA or C8, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula of C8HF15O2. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, also known as PFOS, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula of C8HF17O3S. Both are considered stable chemicals, comprised of 8 carbons. The stability of these carbons and fluorine atoms make them extremely persistent in the environment, and difficult to abate.

Where are Perfluoroalkyl Substances like PFOA and PFOS found?

PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals widely used, across the globe. Their known for their ability to repel water and other sticky substances, making them ideal for a number of different applications. Common applications include:

  • As surface protection for items such as:
    • Non-stick cookware
    • Furniture
    • Carpeting and rugs
  • A component in the manufacturing of:
    • Food and beverage packaging
    • Personal hygiene goods like floss, waxes, and makeup
    • Automotive parts and fabrics
    • Consumer goods packaging
    • Outdoor clothing and gear
  • They are also commonly used in manufacturing facilities as:
    • Surfactants
    • Emulsifiers
    • Coatings
    • Wetting agents

[Read more…]

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Amine Plant Case Study

May 2020 | Case Study | Amine Plant

Location: Texas

Employees: Over 11,000

Industry: Oil & Gas

Project Type: Amine Plant

Project Goal: Readying natural gas for pipeline quality with subsequent CO2 sequestration

Equipment Type: Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer

Executive Summary:

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems was tasked with find a pollution control solution for an Amine Plant, that would treat Carbon Dioxide (CO2) vent emissions.

Client Overview:

This customer is one of the biggest energy infrastructure providers in North America. They own and operate over 100 terminals, and tens of thousands of miles of pipeline. These terminals and pipelines store and transport petroleum products, chemicals, and CO2, among other things. Their customer portfolio includes some of the world’s largest oil producers, shippers, and distribution companies. They are a leader in enhanced oil recovery projects in the US using CO2 collected underground and in their own Amine plants. [Read more…]

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Status Update – 3/27/2020

Covid-19Status Update: Gulf Coast Environmental Systems is proud to support our nation’s critical infrastructure, during this unprecedented global event. Our current projects include systems to sterilize medical equipment/waste, process and transmit natural gas, fuel production, and to make semiconductors for critical medical, communication, and information systems.

We are open and operating normally, while taking every precaution to operate safely for our employees, customers, suppliers, and community. We are not under any shelter-in-place or other such restrictive orders. If such an order is issued, we are designated as an essential business by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and will continue to operate.

We stand ready to solve your problems, with new equipment, refurbishments, service and maintenance, upgrades, and repairs. Let us know how we can help you.

Chad Clark, CEO

sales@gcesystems.com

832.476.9024

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GCES Supports the “Zero Flaring by 2030” Initiative

open flaring

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems Supports the “Zero Flaring by 2030” Initiative

20-years-ago, the southern Texas skyline, like many other areas of “oil country”, looked like a birthday cake lined with bright burning open flares. With recent pushes towards alternative options, the “candles” have started to disappear.

In the drilling process, the oil that is retrieved from the ground is accompanied by a significant amount of gas. These gases are deemed uneconomical and generally burned off using flares. Flares are pollution control devices used to safely combust unwanted process waste gas streams and are essential for safe plant operation, and the abatement of routine waste gas emissions. This process has been used for decades and is still the most widely accepted method of process waste gas abatement because of the dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can be found in these streams. Routine flaring, a specific type of flaring that is incredibly common in the oil and gas industry, is a process in which flaring is done in cases where the gas does not present any safety risks. However, flares have garnered quite a bit of attention in the media with the focus on methane and CO2 and their role in climate change.

Globally, gas flares burn approximately 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. This amounts to 300 million tons of CO2 being released into the atmosphere without capture. This release is a potentially massive missed opportunity; the amount of gas flared last year alone could be used to create more electricity than the entire continent of Africa uses in a year. Furthermore, gases that cannot be used for energy generation could alternatively be used for conservation and use in several other industries (ie: food and beverage, medical, etc.) providing further financial value. [Read more…]

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The Value of Carbon Dioxide

What is Carbon Dioxide?carbon dioxide

Carbon Dioxide is one of the most commonly found gases on earth. Its chemical formula is CO2, meaning it is comprised of one carbon atom covalently double bounded two oxygen atoms. CO2  is incombustible, colorless, and in the typical exposure concentrations, odorless gas, that is also water soluble. Carbon dioxide is the result of oxidization of carbon.

Where is Carbon Dioxide Found?

Carbon dioxide comes from both natural and anthropogenic sources, and is necessary for all living things.

Natural: Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring compound, that is released when living organisms respire or decompose. Carbon dioxide is also naturally released into the atmosphere by the oceans, volcanos, forest fires, and carbonate rocks. Natural sources, like these, produce more carbon dioxide than anthropogenic sources.

Anthropogenic: The sources of CO2 that get the most attention are anthropogenic, meaning human-initiated or created. These sources are a part of everyday life for most people, and are unavoidable in most cases. These human activities include transportation, power and heat generation, chemical and petrochemical production and use, fossil fuel use, manufacturing, agriculture, food production, etc… The carbon dioxide produced by the harvesting and use of fossil fuels gets the most attention as a contributor to climate change. Recently, the oil and gas industries have started taking significant steps to curb their CO2 emissions. [Read more…]

Company Profile

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems (GCES) is your custom solutions provider for pollution control systems, industrial ovens, systems engineering and field support worldwide. Our unique approach is to analyze your process stream and business objectives and propose an ideal solution or range of options to help you optimize these objectives. GCES is a one-stop shop: we provide engineering services, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and ongoing support. With our broad base of expertise and large installed global base, we are well-positioned to solve your pollution control issues.

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