Experimental Oily Wastewater Separation System.

The design, construction, testing, and delivery to the Army of an experimental system for total oil removal from oily bilge and ballast waters is described. The experimental system uses a two-stage treatment process. The first stage employs an oil-water separator using coalescence for the removal of suspended organics oil. In the second treatment stage the dissolved organic compounds in the oily wastewater are oxidized by ozone in the presence of ultraviolet light in a well-stirred tank reactor. Laboratory testing with pure organic compounds in water, bilgewater simulants, and bilgewater demonstrated the enhancement of oxidation rates with increasing UV dosage. Both batch and flowthrough tests were conducted. Optimum treatment parameters depend on the goal of treatment i.e., high throughput versus cost. Author