Operational Test Report (OTR): On-Site Degradation of Oily Sludge in a Tenthousand Gallon Sequencing Batch Reactor at Navsta Pearl Harbor, HI

摘要

The Department of Defense facilities generate thousands of tons of oily sludge annually. Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC) was tasked to conduct bench and pilot-scale testing of oily sludge biodegradation. In collaboration with PWC Pearl Harbor, NFESC designed, installed, and operated a 10,000-gallon sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for the on-site degradation of oily sludge. Research completed by NFESC demonstrated that bacteria already present in and adapted to oily sludge from a variety of sources degrade the hydrocarbons found in oily sludge within two weeks from 20,000 ppm to less than 100 ppm. In addition, the concentration of heavy metals (primarily zinc and copper) and total suspended solids in treated sludge residuals remain well below discharge limits. Data and results are presented in this report. These results demonstrate that on-site biological treatment is technically and economically feasible and that a sequencing batch reactor is easily assembled on site using off-the shelf components and surplus tans. This approach eliminates the sludge at significant cost savings, which for most installations would be recovered in two years, and eliminates the long-term liability associated with landfill in oily sludge.