Six oil/water separators reduce runoff contamination from storage terminal

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States)

OSTI ID:5808959

Castelucci, R J

The Gordon Terminal Service Company operates a 30-acre facility adjacent to the Ohio River for the custom-packing of oils and chemicals. During transfer and maintenance operations, oil had been occasionally spilled within diked retaining areas. Spilled material is collected in the retaining areas and, together with rain and snow drainage, flows to the plant's sewer system and then, after crude separation of oily waste, to Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ACSA) facilities. To meet effluent standards set by the ACSA, Gordon was required to limit its plant effluent to a maximum of 15 ppm. Typical oil content had been in the less than 200 ppm range. To remove the tramp oil from the predominantly aqueous effluent stream, Gordon initially installed one corrugated plate oil/water separator at an in-ground location. The unit consists of an epoxy-coated steel tank that contains a pack of corrugated separator plates installed at a 45/sup 0/ angle. Since the initial oil/water separator was installed in 1974, Gordon Terminal Service Company has added five more units - four at the terminal and one at the jet fuel storage facility near the Pittsburgh International Airport which is also operated by Gordon Terminal. By strategically placing the separators, the company has been able to eliminate the potential for contaminating the municipal sewer facilities, keeping effluent from the plant to below 15 ppm oil. Plant effluent has been and is periodically monitored by the ACSA and has met effluent standards. All the units have proven to be relatively maintenance free, requiring only periodic inspection and flushing. Since the separators require no power or chemicals, operating costs have been virtually non-existent.

• Research Organization: Gordon Terminal Service Co., Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 5808959
• Journal Information: Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
WEIR OIL RECOVERY SYSTEMS
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTE WATER
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CONTAINMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
WASTES
WATER
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
022000 - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)