Coagulation of Refinery Wastes
by Twin Pilot-Plant Units
Roy F. Weston1, Robert G. Merman2, and Joseph G. DeMann3
Waste Control Laboratory-
Atlantic Refining Company
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A comprehensive survey of the effluent waste-water qualities from
a large section of the Philadelphia Refinery of the Atlantic Refining
Company indicated that a higher type of treatment than the gravity-
differential separation of oil and suspended solids would be required
if the effluent quality were to comply with the requirements of the
Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board.
A qualitative survey of the sources and characteristics of the various
wastes originating in this part of the refinery indicated that the possibility of providing local treatment plants in an endeavor to meet the
accepted standards was impractical because of the number of such local
facilities that would be required, the limitations in available space, and
the problems of operation, supervision, and control. In addition, it
could not be definitely assured that a reasonable number of such plants
could provide an effluent of satisfactory quality. Consequently, plans
were made to install coagulation pilot-plant units for the purpose of
determining the practicability of the flocculation of refinery wastes.
A program was organized to determine the quality of the influent
and effluent of the waste-treatment facilities, the effect of variables of
treatment on effluent quality, the coagulant requirements, the sludge
production, and the possible methods of sludge handling and disposal.
Conventional coagulation and sedimentation units designed for a 10-
gpm flow were constructed as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b. The units
were constructed in duplicate so that a study of process variables could
be made on the same waste water. Vertical-flow clarification tanks
were also provided as shown.
The influent to the unit was pumped by means of a centrifugal pump
to a weir box, from which the flow was metered at a constant rate to
each side of the unit through two adjustable V-notch weirs.   By adjust-
1 Sanitary Engineer.
2 Assistant Sanitary Engineer.
3 Biologist-Chemist.
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