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Title: Physical, chemical, and toxicological properties of Navy oily sludge. Final report, October 1983-September 1984

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5702752

A research program was carried out to sample and characterize, in terms of physical, chemical, and toxicological properties, oily sludges generated by oily waste water and waste oil treatment facilities at ten major Naval installations in the United States. The information generated under this program provides a basis for oily sludge classification and for developing design criteria for treatment and ultimate disposal technology for oily sludges produced at Naval installations. The oily sludges anlayzed indicate that a typical oily sludge is well dispersed, fairly uniform in consistency, and is a stable mixture of oil, suspended and dissolved organic and inorganic solids, and water. It contains traces of volatile hydrocarbons (usually less than 50 ppm). In spite of the high water content (80 to 90% of the volume), separation of oil from water in sludges is difficult. Some of the collected samples have remained of uniform consistency for a number of months with no indication of phase separation. Organic toxic substances found in the oily sludge include phenolic compounds and poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Inorganic priority pollutants were also found and included: nickel, zinc, lead, copper, and chromium. In spite of low oil and sloids content of the oily sludges examined, they do exhibit strong toxic properties. Typically, oily sludges exhibit (on a wet basis) toxicity levels comparable with those of benzene and phenol.

Research Organization:
Naval Civil Engineering Lab., Port Hueneme, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5702752
Report Number(s):
AD-A-164533/2/XAB; NCEL-TN-1739
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English