An apparatus and method for treating chemical production plant process condensate and low pressure purge gas such that a contaminant- rich stream is recoverable from the condensate and purge gas, wherein the contaminants are substantially removed from the condensate by steam stripping and subsequent rectification in a relatively low pressure stripping/rectification tower. The tower overhead is then condensed, and any non-condensed gases are subjected to water scrubbing, along with the low pressure purge gas to further recover contaminates from the non- condensed gas. A portion of the condensed overhead and scrubbing water containing contaminates is returned to the top of the rectification section of the tower as reflux and the balance being withdrawn as a concentrated stream for reuse in the plant. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with existing low pressure equipment, avoiding costly major modifications, and is particularly adapted to use in conjunction with ammonia and methanol plants.
展开▼
