How Barrel Reconditioning Industries Improved Wash Water Recycling
Belt skimming continuously removed oil contamination, reducing disposal costs and improving recycling efficiency
Container reconditioning facilities rely on effective washing systems to clean and prepare used drums and barrels for reuse. However, oils, grease, solvents, and other hydrocarbons removed during the cleaning process can quickly contaminate wash water, increasing disposal costs and reducing system efficiency.
The Problem: Barrel Reconditioning Industries (BRI) of Cottage Grove, MN builds recycling systems for both metal and plastic containers, including lubricating fluid drums and barrels. A typical BRI system consists of several integrated machines or stations, including a solvent pre-flush and a high-pressure water wash. The water wash presents two distinct problems: oil and grease contaminated wash water can plug spray heads and filters, and disposing of wastewater contaminated with oil, solvents and other hydrocarbons typically costs as much (or more) as disposing of a used barrel. To reuse the barrel reconditioning water – oil, solvents and other hydrocarbons must be removed along with solid contaminations.
The Challenge: Oil-Contaminated Wash Water Limiting Recycling Efficiency
- Wastewater contaminated with oil and hydrocarbons is costly to dispose of
- Oil and grease contamination clogged spray nozzles and filters, reducing cleaning effectiveness
- Ineffective removal of oils and floating contaminants for reuse of wash water
- Excess contamination reduced overall efficiency of the recycling process
The Solution and Measurable Results: Abanaki Model 4 Oil Grabber for Continuous Wash Water Recycling
President Jay Ahern was concerned about these issues and decided to implement an Abanaki Model 4 Oil Grabber Oil Skimmer made with stainless steel for trouble-free operation in BRI’s environment, which included high temperatures and harsh chemicals. Because BRI makes a wide variety of equipment for different types of containers, flexible design options were critical to the success of the application. The skimmer makes use of differences in specific gravity and surface tension between oil and water, which allow a belt operating on a motor and pulley system to attract oil and other hydrocarbon liquids from the surface of tank fluids.
The Model 4’s ability to remove up to 20 gallons of oil per hour from tanks prevented wash water contamination and spray head and filter plugging, as well as greatly reducing the company’s spend on wastewater disposal. Their ability to reuse barrel reconditioning water without contamination by oils and solvents was huge in keeping BRI operating at their best.
From Ahern himself, “over the years we’ve tried a lot of different types and manufacturers – coalescers, tube skimmers, disk types and others… but we always come back to Abanaki belt oil skimmers. Even when we [use] coalescers and filters, the Oil Grabber improves their efficiency by preventing an overload of too much oil.”
Operational improvements and results included:
- Continuous removal of floating oil, grease, and hydrocarbon contamination
- Cleaner wash water for recycling and reuse
- Reduced plugging of spray heads and filtration equipment
- Lower wastewater disposal requirements and associated costs
- Improved efficiency of the barrel cleaning process
- Reliable operation in harsh industrial washing environments
Quantified performance capability:
- Oil removal capacity of up to 20 gallons per hour
- Continuous recovery of oils and hydrocarbons from wash water, supporting ongoing water recycling efforts
Edited for length: Previously published in Hazardous Materials Management
