Treatment and Stabilization of Petroleum Oily Sludge

ABSTRACT In the recent time, crude oily sludge is a recurring problem that leads to corrosive effects and a reduction in oil storing capacity. This research was conducted to treat and stabilize the petroleum oily sludge using solvent extraction method of treatment. The aim and objectives of this research was achieved through the characterization of the oily sludge extraction of oil from 50g of sludge using 100ml of toluene as a solvent for 2hours. The same procedure with the same mass of sludge was repeated for 125 and 150ml of solvent (toluene) for 2hours respectively. 5mg of each extract and 3g of each residue was sent for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis. The TPH results of the three samples yielded 36, 16, 14% and 4% for the oily sludge. The residues gotten from each extraction was stabilized using the mixture of sand and cement as a binder. The homogeneous mixture was casted in a mould and allowed to cure for 2days. The ultimate analysis of the sample used (oily sludge) yielded 85.3, 5.44, 1.96, 6.32, 0.98 wt% of C, H, N, O and S element respectively. Hence, it is concluded that the sample treated for 3hrs achieved the greatest reduction in TPH having only 14% hydrocarbons remaining. ABSTRACT In the recent time, crude oily sludge is a recurring problem that leads to corrosive effects and a reduction in oil storing capacity. This research was conducted to treat and stabilize the petroleum oily sludge using solvent extraction method of treatment. The aim and objectives of this research was achieved through the characterization of the oily sludge extraction of oil from 50g of sludge using 100ml of toluene as a solvent for 2hours. The same procedure with the same mass of sludge was repeated for 125 and 150ml of solvent (toluene) for 2hours respectively. 5mg of each extract and 3g of each residue was sent for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis. The TPH results of the three samples yielded 36, 16, 14% and 4% for the oily sludge. The residues gotten from each extraction was stabilized using the mixture of sand and cement as a binder. The homogeneous mixture was casted in a mould and allowed to cure for 2days. The ultimate analysis of the sample used (oily sludge) yielded 85.3, 5.44, 1.96, 6.32, 0.98 wt% of C, H, N, O and S element respectively. Hence, it is concluded that the sample treated for 3hrs achieved the greatest reduction in TPH having only 14% hydrocarbons remaining.