Oily Wastewater Treatment Processes
Refinery wastewater can contain free oil, emulsified oil, suspended solids, catalyst fines, coke particles, rust and other process contaminants. Without effective treatment, these pollutants can cause equipment fouling, reduce downstream treatment efficiency and make it more difficult to meet discharge or reuse requirements.
UNITE provides oily wastewater treatment filtration systems for refinery drainage, tank-bottom water, equipment wash water, produced water and industrial wastewater treatment processes. Our solutions are designed to improve separation efficiency before biological treatment, membrane treatment, reuse or discharge.
Key Challenges in Refinery Oily Water Treatment
Oily wastewater composition can vary significantly depending on the refinery unit, operating condition and source of contamination. Oil droplets may be free, dispersed or emulsified, while solids can range from large particles to fine catalyst fines.
A well-designed oily wastewater filter system can help to:
- Remove suspended solids before downstream treatment
- Reduce oil-related fouling in membranes and treatment equipment
- Improve oil-water separation efficiency
- Protect pumps, valves and process instruments
- Support wastewater reuse and discharge compliance
Recommended Filtration and Separation Equipment
Automatic backwash filters and self-cleaning filters are commonly used for pretreatment and continuous suspended-solids removal. For fine solid-liquid separation, candle filters or pressure leaf filters may be suitable. Coalescing separators can help remove dispersed oil droplets and improve oil-water separation performance.
UNITE can integrate filtration, coalescence separation, automatic sludge discharge and control systems into a complete oily wastewater treatment skid.
Tailored Solutions for Refinery Wastewater
The right oily wastewater treatment process depends on oil concentration, solids loading, droplet size, required effluent quality and downstream treatment technology. UNITE provides customized filtration and separation solutions based on actual wastewater conditions.
