From the heart of California's central valley, Global Sulfur Systems has been providing environmental solutions for Stretford operations at refineries since 1989. Company founder Eugene Becker and his partner Walter Losier utilize the Stretford Desalting Process. The technology eliminates waste disposal problems by crystallizing salt for safe disposal.
Stretford is a sulfur removal process that reduces air pollutants at oil refineries—unfortunately, its liquid byproduct creates environmental discharge concerns. Global's method not only addresses the waste issue, it also allows plants to remain operational and salvage key chemicals from the solution.
Becker explains that the Stretford system was created to meet new standards established in Los Angeles and California the 1960s, later adopted as EPA standards under Nixon. "It solved an air pollution problem but created a water pollution problem, which is the classic approach to many environmental issues. Solve one problem, create another one."
"The process builds up sulfate salts that have to be taken out. Otherwise, you had to get rid of the solution. That was an added burden to the cost," Becker says. "We investigated and it found that British Gas' research center in London came up with a desalting process, which could be used as a treatment process to convert the sulfate back to sodium sulfate and crystallize it."
Global struck a deal with British Gas for an exclusive license on the desalting process, but they added their own innovation—portability. "It only needs to be used for a few weeks, two months at the most," Becker says. "Because you don't need it all year long, a portable truck-mounted facility was the best option."
In addition to offering an environmentally-friendly waste disposal solution, Global's process salvages valuable chemicals, making recycling the Stretford solution more cost-effective than replacing it. And they do it safely. "We've had no lost-time injury accidents in 20 years. Oil companies cannot afford to bring in contractors that don't operate safely. It's just too risky. Our clients know we run a tight ship," Becker says.
"That's one positive effect of economy—being able to find good people again,” he adds. “When the economy is booming, it's hard to get really good, well-qualified people to run the equipment."
Becker didn't initially see himself as an entrepreneur. "I don't think I even knew what the word meant," he jokes, but that didn't stop him from following an entrepreneurial path. "As the saying goes, find a need and fill it. The need was to recycle structured solution without losing the valuable chemicals in it. There are other methods out there, but they are either ineffective or too expensive. Our process turned out to be the best. We are the only ones who can do what we do."
As a graduate of Washington State University, Becker is grateful for the many mentors he had there. Today, he returns that goodwill by acting as a mentor to chemical engineering students. "I enjoy it because the students are always so enthusiastic." Becker's own enthusiasm created a career that helps us all live in a safer, cleaner world.
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