Gulf Coast Environmental Systems

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Case Study: Nuclear Waste – Soil Remediation

CASE STUDY
Industry: Nuclear
Project Type: Soil Remediation
Location: Benton County, Washington
Project Goal: Treat highly contaminated waste vapors
Equipment Type: Thermal Catalytic Oxidizer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Gulf Coast Environmental Systems was tasked with finding a solution for decommissioned nuclear waste storage tanks that were leaking contaminated toxic vapors into the environment.

CLIENT OVERVIEW:NOx nuclear site
Seventy years ago, this site produced plutonium for the United States’ nuclear arsenal. Now, it’s run by the Department of Energy through a contractor. The contractor is managing a $110 billion cleanup of 56-million-gallons of chemical and nuclear waste, stored in 177 underground tanks. It is estimated that 150-300 gallons of radioactive waste per year was leaking into the environment. This cleanup project is expected to last the next 50 years. This contractor asked GCES to find an extremely long lasting solution that would destroy 99% of the toxins in the polluted waste vapors, that were escaping the tanks. [Read more…]

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Case Study – Specialty Chemical Refurbished Solution

Industry: Specialty Chemical/Materials
Project Type: Chemical
Location: Louisiana
Project Goal: A quickly commissioned pollution control solution
Equipment Type: Refurbished Thermal Oxidizer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Gulf Coast Environmental Systems was tasked with finding a pollution control solution for a chemical application which had an unusually tight timeline.

CLIENT OVERVIEW:
This customer manufactures and sells high-performance specialty chemicals and materials. One of the largest chemical providers in the world, this company operates in two separate segments; Catalyst Technologies and Materials Technologies. Catalyst Technologies provides fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts to produce petroleum-based fuels like gasoline and diesel. They also supply methanol-to-olefins catalysts for the conversion of methanol into petrochemical feeds like ethylene and propylene. [Read more…]

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Sulfuric Acid

What is Sulfuric Acid?Sulfuric Acid

Sulfuric acid, or vitriol, is a brownish, odorless, oily mineral acid. Although odorless, it has an obvious acidic taste that is said to be incredibly off-putting. It is generally considered stable and composed of sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen. The molecular formula for sulfuric acid is H2SO4, and it is water-soluble, meaning it will not burn. It is considered extremely corrosive due to its highly acidic nature and in high concentrations, it is dehydrating and oxidizing. Another interesting property that sulfuric acid exhibits its ability to absorb water vapor from the air, which means its hygroscopic. Because of this, it is highly reactive with most chemicals, especially water.

Corrosive Sulfuric Acid

Where is Sulfuric Acid Found? [Read more…]

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Dimethyl Sulfide

What is Dimethyl Sulfide?Dimethyl sulfide

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), also known as methylthiomethane, is an organosulfur compound. It is a methyl sulfide, in which the sulfur atom is substituted by two methyl groups, with the chemical formula of (CH3)2S. It is a highly flammable straw-colored liquid, with a boiling point of 37 degrees Celsius, or 99 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a compound that is easily recognized by its foul odor, that is often described as “cabbage like”. Unlike many other organosulfur compounds, this disagreeable odor is present in even low concentrations of DMS. Dimethyl sulfide is the product of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) breakdown, and is also the result of bacterial metabolism of methanethiol.

Dimethyl Sulfide

Where is Dimethyl Sulfide Found? [Read more…]

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Pollution Control – Expense, or Profit?

POLLUTION CONTROL CASE STUDYGulf Coast Environmental Systems
WET SCRUBBER CHEMICAL INJECTION & LIQUOR CONCENTRATOR | AUGUST 2018

LIGHTING COMPANY
Employees: 9000
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Electrical Equipment
Sub-Industry: Commercial & Residential Building Equipment & Systems
Project Type: Equipment Proposal

A fortune 500 lighting company that manufactures LEDs and lighting products. This Company provides solutions for automotive lighting, computer displays, LCD televisions, and other applications.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
To determine the feasibility and estimates to convert the existing wet scrubber units to chemical injection for creation of a sellable byproduct of ammonia sulfate.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Gulf Coast Environmental Systems was asked to perform a feasibility project by a lighting company that manufactures light-emitting diode (LED) components. With a large amount of ammonia and hydrogen being released from the reactors during the process performed at their facility, they would need specialized equipment. The hydrogen is treated in an Incineration system (NOx created) with the remaining ammonia being removed using water only in the packed tower scrubbers. The blowdown (Ammonium Hydroxide) from the scrubbers is treated in an Acid Neutralization Systems (ANS) (converts to Ammonium Sulfate) before being discharged into the wastewater system. Waste surcharges apply based on the ammonium (NH4+) content in the wastewater.

The goal of this feasibility study was to determine the required steps and costs involved in using Sulfuric Acid in the scrubbers to get a controlled blowdown liquor that could create a viable revenue stream from an existing liability waste procedure. In addition, the need for the ANS system is hopefully eliminated along with the additional costs of discharging the uncontrolled wastewater. [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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