The goal is to clean oily sand using a process that emphasizes minimal chemical use and heat, focusing on oil removal, sand cleaning, and eventual soil reconstitution. Here's a breakdown of the process, incorporating the provided reference points:
Oily Sand Remediation Process
This process outlines the steps for dealing with oily sand to reclaim usable soil components.
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Oil Removal Throughout the Process: The core principle is to consistently remove oil at each stage. This prevents the oil from redepositing and streamlines the overall cleaning operation.
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OPS High-Pressure Scrubber (AEV): Utilize the designated OPS (Oil Processing System) high-pressure scrubber (AEV) to begin the cleaning process. This scrubber is crucial for the initial separation of oil from the sand.
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Sand Cleaning: After the initial scrubbing, the sand needs further cleaning. This might involve additional washing or separation techniques to ensure a high degree of cleanliness. The goal is to remove any remaining oil or contaminants adhering to the sand particles.
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Fines Cleaning: The "fines" (small particles like silt and clay) also need to be cleaned. These fines often retain oil. Cleaning methods could include:
- Separation Techniques: Separating the fines from the oil using gravity separation, hydrocyclones, or similar methods.
- Washing: Washing the fines with a cleaning agent (while minimizing chemical usage) to dislodge the oil.
- OPS Scrubber Modification: Possible usage of a modified OPS scrubber to clean fines.
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Recombination to Create Soil: Once the sand and fines are cleaned, they are recombined in appropriate ratios to create a usable soil. This process involves:
- Determining Optimal Ratios: Analyzing the cleaned sand and fines to determine the ideal proportions for soil reconstitution.
- Mixing: Thoroughly mixing the cleaned components to ensure a homogenous soil mixture.
- Soil Amendment (If Needed): Adding any necessary soil amendments (e.g., nutrients, organic matter) to improve the soil's fertility and structure.
Key Considerations
- Minimize Chemistry and Heat: This constraint emphasizes environmentally friendly and cost-effective solutions. Focus on mechanical separation, optimized washing processes, and potentially bioremediation techniques where applicable.
- Oil Recovery: Aim to recover the removed oil, as it could have value. This may require further processing of the separated oil.
- Environmental Regulations: Ensure compliance with all local and national environmental regulations regarding handling and disposal of oily waste.
- Testing: Regularly test the cleaned sand, fines, and recombined soil to ensure they meet quality standards.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: Conducting a cost-benefit analysis of each stage is crucial to optimize the process and ensure economic viability.
Example Scenario
Imagine a site with oily sand from a historic oil spill. The process would involve:
- Using the AEV high-pressure scrubber to remove the bulk of the oil from the sand.
- Separating the resulting material into sand and fines.
- Cleaning the sand further with a washing process.
- Cleaning the fines using a combination of washing and separation techniques.
- Combining the cleaned sand and fines in a carefully controlled ratio to create a soil suitable for replanting vegetation.