TREATMENT OF BILGE

WATER FROM SHIPS

A TECHNICAL PRESENTATION
FOR
MAINTENANCE/COMPLIANCE
PERSONNEL

Louisville, Kentucky
June, 2007
 HEXAGON’S BACKGROUND IN TREATING
WASTEWATER CONTAINING OIL,, GREASE,, SOLIDS
AND HEAVY METALS

• Hexagon Technologies started their pioneering efforts in treating wastewater

from automotive companies in 1982. Some of the most difficult and
challenging wastewater streams are from automotive/OEM parts companies.
• Typically, these waste streams contain:
– FOG (fuel, oil and grease)
– Heavy metals
– Surfactants/detergents
– Degreasers
– Cleaners
– Synthetic coolants
– Hydraulic/drawing fluids
• A such,
As h these
th wastewater
t t streams
t are really
ll challenging
h ll i in i terms
t of:
f
– Removal of FOG
– Removal of heavy metals
– Removal of suspended solids
 HEXAGON’S EXPERIENCE AS A SUPPLIER
TO U.S
U S ARMED FORCES

• Hexagon has been a supplier to various branches of U.S. Armed Forces over the
last 25 years. Specifically, Hexagon has worked with:
– U.S. Navy
– Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
– U.S. Air Force
• The specialty chemicals supplied include:
– Polymers for wastewater treatment
– Scale/corrosion
S l / i inhibitors
i hibit for
f boilers,
b il closed
l d loop
l systems
t and
d cooling
li
towers
– Coagulants for water purification in reverse osmosis (RO) units
• During Operation Desert Shield, Hexagon supplied critical chemicals in a record
short time,
time saving millions of dollars to U
U.S.
S Troop Command Center
• Hexagon has been supplying chemicals (polymers) for treatment of bilge water
to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA for the last several years.
• Hexagon’s services were recognized by Defense Logistic Agency U.S. Army
with several awards and letters of commendation
commendation.
 BILGE WATER CHARACTERISTICS

• Bilge water composition can vary but generally some common characteristics are present
most of the time.
• FOG – fuel, oil and grease
• Heavy Metals – Typically copper, zinc and nickel are present in sufficient quantities that
complete removal is a must before water can be discharged into ocean/lakes/rivers
ocean/lakes/rivers. Navy
personnel connected with bilge water treatment have stated that in at least 25% of the
cases, heavy metals is an issue and waste stream must be tested.
• Hazardous wastewater classification – In case heavy metal concentration is high then it
can be classified as hazardous waste.
• Suspended solids – These can come from numerous sources . These suspended solids
must be removed.
• Surfactants/detergents/cleaners – Bilge water is a mix of several streams from the ship
and may likely contain surfactants and cleaners which end up in the final bilge water.
Some of these chemicals can actually emulsify oil by covering fine oil particles with a
protective layer of surfactant. This emulsification of oil makes treatment even more
diffi lt as this
difficult thi emulsion
l i mustt be
b destroyed
d t d for
f efficient
ffi i t separation
ti off the
th oily
il substrate.
b t t
 BILGE WATER TREATMENT OBJECTIVES

Bilge water is basically a wastewater stream with oil/grease, heavy metals and suspended
solids. Typically, major objectives are:
• Efficient, maximum removal of oily and greasy components
– Oil/grease
Oil/ contributes
t ib t tto BOD (biological
(bi l i l oxygen demand)
d d)
• Heavy metal removal to meet EPA/Regulatory standards
– Mostly copper, zinc, nickel must be removed to comply with regulations.
– In some cases cadmium and lead may be present in small quantities.
• Maximum removal of TSS (total suspended solids). This often involves a two step
treatment ie. coagulation and flocculation.

The final objective is to treat bilge water so that it can be discharged in to the sewer or
navigable waters within regulatory guidelines.
 TYPICAL DISCHARGE LIMITS AFTER BILGE
WATER HAS BEEN TREATED

Although regulatory standards can vary, typically the following guidelines are used:

FOG (fuel, oil & grease) < 5 ppm to 100 ppm

TSS (total
(t t l suspended
d d solids)
lid ) < 5 ppm andd up
Heavy Metals < 0.5 ppm

By and large, sludge recovered from filter press is considered non-hazardous and
can be applied.
 WHY TREATMENT OF SOME WASTEWATER
STREAMS IS SO CHALLENGING

• Oil is emulsified. Because of presence of soaps and detergents used in

cleaning/manufacturing process, oil is emulsified.
• Heavy metals can be present in complex form. Copper, zinc, nickel, chromium and other
heavy metals are often present in complex/chelated form making it difficult to remove
these heavy metals.
• Synthetic coolants/hydraulic fluids. More and more manufacturing plants are using
synthetic coolants and synthetic hydraulic fluids that interfere with treatment of
wastewater.
• Chemicals in waste stream that act as buffers. A variety of chemicals used end up in the
waste stream one way or another. Some of the chemicals act as buffers preventing
polymers from working effectively for the separation process.
• Strong, stable oil emulsions. Some surfactants/detergents will make a very strong, stable
emulsion
l i off oil.
il Often,
Oft such
h a stable
t bl emulsion
l i is i counterproductive
t d ti to t the
th goals
l off
wastewater treatment.
 HEXAGON’S PRODUCT OFFERINGS FOR
BILGE WATER TREATMENT

• Coagulants – Full line, various chemistries, custom made products. These coagulants can vary in:
– Chemistry (chemical composition)
– Molecular weight
– Organic,
g inorganic
g or blends
• Focus on:
– Rapid destruction of emulsified oil
– Efficient separation of suspended solids, oil component
– Wide window over broad range of pH and contaminants
• Fl
Flocculants
l t – Mostly
M tl anionic
i i butb t in
i some cases cationic
ti i ini nature
t
– Wide range of molecular weights and chemistries
– Available as liquids (emulsions/dispersions) and as dry polymers
• Focus on:
– Rapidly
p y forming g dense floc
– Easy filtration/dewatering
– Clear supernate
– Maximum heavy metal removal
• Metal scavengers
– At lleastt 2-3
2 3 alternate
lt t chemistries
h i ti
– Will work alone or in conjunction with other polymers.
 HEXAGON’S PRODUCT OFFERINGS FOR
BILGE WATER TREATMENT
(continuation)

• Focus
– Maximum efficient removal of complex, chelated heavy metals that cannot be removed using
conventional hydroxide precipitation process
– Low toxicity to aquatic life
• Filter aids
– Variety of filter aids to make bigger, denser floc. To be used only when necessary
• Focus
– Clean supernate
– Rapid filtration
• Defoamers
– In rare cases, lot of surfactants and detergents will cause a foam problem. Small amounts of
defoamer will destroy/reduce foam
• Odor control products
– In rare cases, bad odor in bilge water for many reasons
– Hexatrol™ line of products will destroy odor including hydrogen sulfide

Hexagon offers a full line of products for bilge water treatment; custom made products can also be
developed when conventional technology does not give optimum performance.
 MOST COMMONLY USED PROCESS
TO TREAT BILGE WATER
ANALYZE FOR HEAVY TO DETERMINE OPTIMUM
METALS, FOG, & SUSPENDED SOLIDS TREATMENT CHEMISTRY

ADJUST pH IF NECESSARY TO INCREASE COAGULATION

EFFICIENCY

ADD COAGULANT & MIX MOSTLY CATIONIC

POLYMER

BRING pH TO 8.5 TO 9.5

TO MAKE METAL
HYDROXIDES INSOLUBLE

ADD FLOCCULANTS MOSTLY ANIONIC POLYMER

CAN USE AIR FLOTATION UNITS,

FILTRATION/FOG REMOVAL GRAVITY SEPARATOR, FILTER
PRESS ETC.
PRESS, ETC
SOLIDS DISCHARGE FOG FOR
FOR CLEAN WATER DISPOSAL
DISPOSAL
 TYPICAL BILGE WATER
TREATMENT PROCESS

REMOVE ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS

USING STRAINER

ADD CATIONIC COAGULANT

FORM MICRO-FLOC &

SEPARATE OIL DISCHARGE CLEAN WATER

BRING pH
H UP TO 8
8.5
5 TO 9
9.5
5
FILTER TO REMOVE SOLIDS

SKIM OILY LAYER FROM TOP

ADD ANIONIC FLOCCULANT
(GRAVITY SEPARATOR)
 BILGE WATER TREATMENT –
BATCH PROCESS

COAGULATION
BILGE WATER pH ADJUSTMENT
TANK

FLOCCULATION
TANK
MODIFICATION MADE TO ADJUST TO
WASTE CHARACTERISTICS
FILTRATION/
OIL SKIMMING

SOLIDS OIL & GREASE SUPERNATE

LANDFILL COMBUSTION DISCHARGE

MOBILE BOWTS - 50 GPM
ƒ Description: Mobile 50 gallon per
minute Bilge Oily Water Treatment
S
System (BOWTS)
(BOWTS). Cost
C apprx. $700K
ƒ Benefits: Reduce Disposal Costs From
$0.25 to $0.04 per Gallon
N
Navywide
id BOWTS Processed
P dOOver
50M Gallons of Bilge Water Savings of
Over $7M per Year
ƒ g
Oil and Grease < 5 mg/l
ƒ Suspended Solids < 5 mg/l
ƒ Heavy Metals < 0.5mg/l
ƒ Implementation:
p
ƒ Systems operating at:
ƒ PWC Yokosuka, Japan
ƒ PWC Sassebo, Japan
ƒ Funded by the Pollution Prevention
Equipment Program (PPEP)
MOBILE BOWTS - 10 GPM
ƒDescription: Mobile 10 gpm Bilge & Oily
Wastewater Treatment System (BOWTS).
Cost apprx.
pp $$500K
ƒBenefits:
ƒ Reduce Disposal Cost from $0.25 to
$0 07per Gallon
$0.07per
ƒ Over 50M Gallons Navywide
ƒ Cost Avoidance: Over $1M/yr
ƒOil and Grease < 5 mg/l
ƒSuspended Solids < 5 mg/l
ƒHeavy Metals < 0.5mg/l
ƒImplementation:
ƒNSA La Maddalena, Italy
ƒPWC Guam
ƒFunded by the Pollution Prevention
E i
Equipmentt Program
P (PPEP)
 CONCLUSIONS

• Bilge water can be treated very effectively if:

– Proper polymers are used
– Detailed laboratory work has been performed
• Given small volume of flow, various batch processes can be used
• A number of equipment manufacturers offer complete treatment plant, often
on skid or on truck trailer
• Hexagon will provide laboratory/consulting services at no charge for
chemicals used in treatment process
• Hexagon polymers have a 25 years successful track record on treatment of
bilge water
• Contact Hexagon for your chemical needs for bilge water treatment