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Title: Biodegradation of oil in ponds

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6303737

The treatment of crude oil in waste stabilization ponds was investigated. Particular emphasis was directed to the effects of settled oily sludges and surface oils on the performance of waste stabilization ponds. API separator bottoms and crude oil were applied separately to bottom sands in model ponds. The effect of these wastes at the bottom on the upper layers of water was investigated in detail. The effect of crude oil present in water on the dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements by the DO analyzer was investigated. The effect of anaerobic zones on the treatment of crude oil by waste stabilization ponds was also considered in detail. Parameters considered in this study were: BOD, COD, suspended solids, hydrogen ion concentration (pH), measurable dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature. Microscopic examinations were made to determine the predominant algal population. The oil released from the bottom of the ponds amounted to about 25 percent of the total pollutants present in the ponds. The 25 percent contribution of organics was obtained from a pond designed to treat 50 pounds of ultimate BOD per acre per day (50 lb BODu/acre/day), influent loading and 0.1 pound of ultimate BOD per square foot (0.1 lb of BOD/u/square ft) of bottom sediments.

Research Organization:
Texas Univ., Austin (USA). Center for Research in Water Resources
OSTI ID:
6303737
Report Number(s):
CRWR-64; ON: DE83901595
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English