Biotreat oily refinery wastes

Technical and economic potential exists for meeting regulatory standards with tank-based biological treatment. Oily waste treatment at a 100,000-bpd Gulf Coast refinery is used as the basis for this evaluation. Results from bench-scale treatability studies of the refiner's API separator sludge and dissolved air flotation float verify that biological treatment can meet EPA's Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BDAT) standards, thereby allowing disposal of the treated residue in a RCRA-permitted landfill. This paper reports that on the basis of these results, an economic feasibility study was conducted to estimate the costs for treating all oily wastes from the refinery. The simplified process flow diagram shows biotreatment as an integral part of a waste treatment process. Key components are: Initial recovery of recyclable oil, biological degradation of hazardous organic components, chemical stabilization of metals and dewatering of the residual sludge.