Filtration of a hydrocarbon from a fluid

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system for treatment of industrial waste water and/or marine vessel bilge water before discharge into waterways, said waste water having hydrocarbon, and synthetic oils, chemical or surfactant based hydrocarbon emulsions, and water soluble hydrocarbons, containing hydrocarbon coated organics and fine suspended particulate matter, said treatment utilizing a hydrocarbon sorbing pre-filter media together with filter structural elements to first remove hydrocarbon contaminated organics and particulate, coalesce then bifurcate and adsorb heavier hydrocarbon elements; the remaining liquid entering the second stage of filtration wherein a cryogenically pulverized recycled tire powder material removes the remaining hydrocarbons, synthetic oils, hydrocarbon emulsions, and water soluble hydrocarbons, providing a highly clarified and oil free effluent at high flow rates and with substantially reduced filter system maintenance. Said invention may further contain a third stage utilizing another layer of hydrocarbon sorbing materials. It may be combined into an oily water separation system.

1 . An apparatus for the filtering of waste water from the discharge of a waste water pump said waste water having both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon organic and particulate contaminants, comprising: a first filtering stage utilizing a hydrocarbon sorbing pre-filter media together with filter structural elements to first remove hydrocarbon contaminated organics and particulate, coalesce then bifurcate and adsorb heavier hydrocarbon elements, then a second filtering stage in which the remaining liquid enters and wherein cryogenically pulverized recycled tire powder material removes the remaining hydrocarbons, synthetic oils, hydrocarbon emulsions, and water soluble hydrocarbons, thereby providing a highly clarified and oil free effluent at high water flow rates, without clogging or plugging, andwith substantially reduced filter system maintenance. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a third filtering stage having another layer of hydrocarbon sorbing materials. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  being combined into a larger oily water separation system said system comprising electronic oil content monitors and piping to allow the continuous discharge of the separated contaminants to separate storage tanks. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as in  claim 2  being combined into a larger oily water separation system said system comprising electronic oil content monitors and piping to allow the continuous discharge of the separated contaminants to separate storage tanks. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon sorbent media is 3 to 5 micron polypropylene fiber material. 
     
     
         6 . A method for the filtering of waste water from the discharge of a waste water pump said waste water having both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon organic and particulate contaminants, comprising: having a first filtering stage utilizing a hydrocarbon sorbing media together with filter structural elements to first coalesce then bifurcate the hydrocarbon elements from the non-hydrocarbon elements in the emulsion, having a second filtering stage in which the remaining liquid enters and wherein a positively charged nano-fiber material removes the remaining organics and other fine particulate in the submicron sized range, thereby providing a highly clarified and oil free effluent at high water flow rates, without clogging or plugging, andwith substantially reduced filter system maintenance. 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 6  further comprising having a third filtering stage with another layer of hydrocarbon sorbing materials. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 6  combining into a larger oily water separation system said system comprising electronic oil content monitors and piping to allow the continuous discharge of the separated contaminants to separate storage tanks. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 7  combining into a larger oily water separation system said system comprising electronic oil content monitors and piping to allow the continuous discharge of the separated contaminants to separate storage tanks. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 6  using hydrocarbon sorbent media which is 1 to 150 micron polypropylene fiber material. 
     
     
         11 . A system for the filtering of waste water from the discharge of a waste water pump said waste water having both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon organic and particulate contaminants, comprising: having a first filtering stage utilizing a hydrocarbon sorbing media together with filter structural elements to first coalesce then bifurcate the hydrocarbon elements from the non-hydrocarbon elements in the emulsion, having a second filtering stage in which the remaining liquid enters and wherein a positively charged nano-fiber material removes the remaining organics and other fine particulate in the submicron sized range, thereby providing a highly clarified and oil free effluent at high water flow rates, without clogging or plugging, and with substantially reduced filter system maintenance. 
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 11  further comprising having a third filtering stage with another layer of hydrocarbon sorbing materials. 
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 11  combining into a larger oily water separation system said system comprising electronic oil content monitors and piping to allow the continuous discharge of the separated contaminants to separate storage tanks. 
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 12  combining into a larger oily water separation system said system comprising electronic oil content monitors and piping to allow the continuous discharge of the separated contaminants to separate storage tanks. 
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 11  using hydrocarbon sorbent media which is between 1 to 150 micron polypropylene fiber material.