초록 ▼

Disclosed is a biomechanical apparatus and method for the continuous phase-separation and biological treatment of ship bilgewater contaminated with petroleum and biodegradable materials. The apparatus includes a pumping system attached directly to the bilge or waste oil holding tank for removing the

Disclosed is a biomechanical apparatus and method for the continuous phase-separation and biological treatment of ship bilgewater contaminated with petroleum and biodegradable materials. The apparatus includes a pumping system attached directly to the bilge or waste oil holding tank for removing the biodegradable material(s) contained in the bilge waste aqueous and non-aqueous phases, which is integrated with a system for microbiologically treating the contaminated bilgewater. The system for microbiologically treating the contaminated bilgewater preferably includes petroleum- and hazardous material-degrading microorganisms. In operation, the three stage apparatus combines functions to physically separate petroleum hydrocarbons from the water phase, process and microbiologically destroy the petroleum hydrocarbons in the water and monitor and direct the discharge of the processed water overboard or recirculation back into the bilge compartment. The separated free-product is removed from the first stage, to a holding tank for off-site disposal, recycling or on-board incineration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for the microbiological remediation of a site contaminated with a biodegradable material comprising:means for removing liquid bilge wastes contaminated with biodegradable materials from both aqueous and non-aqueous phases; a vessel for treating said liquid bilge wastes to cause the b

1. An apparatus for the microbiological remediation of a site contaminated with a biodegradable material comprising:means for removing liquid bilge wastes contaminated with biodegradable materials from both aqueous and non-aqueous phases; a vessel for treating said liquid bilge wastes to cause the biodegradation of said biodegradable materials; means for separating phase-separated hydrocarbon material from aqueous phase material in the bilge compartment; means for collecting said phase-separated hydrocarbon material; means for minimizing emulsification of hydrocarbons in water; means for optimizing separation of hydrocarbons from water, said means comprising a coalescing filter; a microbiological chamber comprising hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms; means comprising a continuously regenerating culture of microorganisms disposed in said microbiological chamber, said culture comprising a film of microorganisms which are fixed to a support media in said microbiological chamber and microorganisms, arising from said film of fixed microorganisms, which slough off said support media and disperse into said aqueous phase material; means for transferring said aqueous phase material to said microbiological chamber; means for ensuring that phase-separated hydrocarbons do not get transferred to said microbiological chamber; means for maintaining a flow of aqueous phase material over the culture of microorganisms; means for introducing gases into said vessel to support the growth of the culture of microorganisms; means for introducing nutrients into said vessel to support the growth of microorganisms; and means for discharging the treated aqueous phase material overboard.