Refineries transform raw materials into usable products, with oil refineries being the most well-known. By-products can also be produced, but safety and pollution are major concerns. Some refineries are incorporating green technology to reduce pollution.
A refinery is a factory or processing plant where raw or basic materials are transformed into more usable forms. There are many different types of refineries that can create all kinds of products, from petroleum to table salt. Refineries often contain complex mechanical systems that allow for safe and correct transmutation from raw materials to finished products.
Probably the best known type of refinery is an oil refinery, where crude oil is exposed to chemical and mechanical processes to transform it into more usable forms. Gasoline, kerosene and petroleum products can be produced in an oil refinery. These refineries have tremendous economic and strategic importance for many regions; in war, oil refineries are often the first targets as they can slow down or shut down the other side’s infrastructure. Since much of the world’s technology currently runs on fossil fuels processed by refineries, the safety and effectiveness of these processing plants is of great concern worldwide.
Many of the oldest refining techniques in the world are used to transform raw food into finished products. Sugar mills have been around for centuries, turning beets and cane into the many forms of sugar used in everyday cooking. In a modern sugar mill, the raw materials are purified, saturated and finally dried to the right concentration to be shipped for packaging.
An important consideration when looking at refineries is by-product production. These are separate compounds created during the refining process that can have their own uses. For example, molasses is a byproduct of sugar refineries. Sulfur and sulfuric acid are sometimes byproducts of petroleum refining.
Safety is a major concern in nearly every refinery operation. Oil and gas refineries have a huge fire and explosive danger, as the materials are combustible by nature. Additionally, workers are often in danger of exposure to polluting and corrosive chemicals and fumes that can lead to chronic injury or even death. Unfortunately, refineries have a long history of accidents and deaths due to oversight and even intentional cuts in safety measures. Many government agencies and unions consider stringent refinery safety standards a top priority in the industry.
Pollution is another major concern in the operation of refineries. Chemical processes and the high amount of energy required to operate a large refinery can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and increased air, water and soil pollution. With global warming becoming a major concern in the 21st century, activists and some environmentally conscious refineries are looking for ways to reduce pollution and incorporate green technology, such as alternative energy, into refinery use .
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