Separation process for treatment of oily sludge

Abstract

Novel process for the removal of hydrophobic oil from solid particulates in oily sludge waste which includes waste material from the oil refineries, drilling fluids or muds, brines, and other chemical wastes which have solid particulates contaminated with oil. The process involves separation of different components of the sludge on the basis of their size, density and physico-chemical differentials. Coarse particulates are removed with the use of screening systems such as sieve bends or vibro-sieves. Oil is removed from these coarse particulates with water rinsing. The separation of the sludge into high and low density fractions may be achieved by gravity separation processes or hydrocyclones. Froth flotation is used to separate hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic materials in the mixture. Froth flotation may involve the use of frothing agents, surface modifying agents and surfactants, the selection of which generally depends on the composition of the sludge, the physical and chemical characteristics of the sludge, and the desired separation composition.

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