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What to Do With Oily Sand?

Published in Oily Sand Remediation 3 mins read

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.
  5. 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:

  1. Using the AEV high-pressure scrubber to remove the bulk of the oil from the sand.
  2. Separating the resulting material into sand and fines.
  3. Cleaning the sand further with a washing process.
  4. Cleaning the fines using a combination of washing and separation techniques.
  5. Combining the cleaned sand and fines in a carefully controlled ratio to create a soil suitable for replanting vegetation.