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                                      Green Petroleum Refining - Mathematical Models for Optimizing Petroleum Refining 
                                                                                          Under Emission Constraints 
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                 by  
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     Yusuf Ali Yusuf 
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                            A thesis  
                                                                                presented to the University of Waterloo 
                                                                                                  in fulfillment of the  
                                                                                   thesis requirement for the degree of 
                                                                                           Master of Applied Science 
                                                                                                                  in  
                                                                                               Chemical Engineering 
                                   
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                      Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2013 
                                                                                             © Yusuf Ali Yusuf 2013 
                                   
                                                                                         
                                                                                                                     
          
          
         I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, 
         including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my 
         thesis may be made electronically available to the public. 
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
                       
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         Abstract 
          
         Petroleum refining processes provide the daily requirements of energy for the global 
         market.   Each refining process produces wastes that have the capacity to harm the 
         environment if not properly disposed of. The treatment of refinery waste is one of the 
         most complex issues faced by refinery managers.   Also, the hazardous nature of these 
         wastes makes them rather costly to dispose of for the refineries. In this thesis, system 
         analysis tools are used to design a program that allows for the selection of the optimal 
         control, minimization and treating options for petroleum refinery waste streams. The 
         performance of the developed model is demonstrated via a case study. Optimal mitigation 
         alternatives to meet the emission reduction targets were studied by evaluating their 
         relative impact on the profitable operation of the given facility. It was found that the 
         optimal mitigation steps was to reduce emission precursors by conducting feed switches 
         at the refinery. In all cases, the optimal solution did not include a capital expansion of the 
         emission control facilities and equipment.  
                       
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            Acknowledgments  
            I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who provided me with the 
            opportunity to complete this study. I am specially greatful to the guidance provided by 
            my advisor Dr. Ali Elkamel.  His wisdom, insight and judgment were crucial in my 
            ability to meet the objectives of this study.  
            I would also like to extend a special acknowledgments to my reviewers and examiners. I 
            would like to thank the University of Waterloo for providing me with the arena for my 
            studies.  
             
              
                                
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