Background: Sulfur compounds must be removed from petroleum because they contribute to environmental
pollution. A strong alkaline solution such as caustic soda is used to remove these compounds. This spent
caustic has high values for chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration, pH and total sulfur. In this
study, the regeneration and treatment methodology of sulfidic spent caustic was investigated by applying
the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).
Methods: The evaluation index system developed was based on group decision-improved AHP. Expert
Choice software was used to simplify decision-making when choosing a practical method and prioritizing
treatment of spent caustic. Cost, environmental considerations, availability and scale-up were chosen as
criteria and wet air oxidation and biological and catalytic methods were selected as alternative methods. The
treatment and regeneration of spent caustic was carried out in a batch bubble column reactor loaded with
IVKAZ catalyst and the effluent was treated in a precipitation-stirred tank reactor.
Results: Evaluation indicated that cost ranked first among criteria at 40.9%. The results showed that the
proposed process produced about 13% (wt) of caustic, 50 g/L of COD and 36 g/L of S2-.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the catalytic method was more effective (0.45) than wet air oxidation
and the biological method. This process regenerated more than 85% of initial caustic and the economy of
the process improved by the recycling of the stream of caustic.
Keywords: Catalytic oxidation, Wastewater treatment, Recovery, Expert Choic
