Environmentally Sound Solution to Unwanted Oil Reduces
Disposal Costs
The Oily Issue
Auto Spares and Salvage, like many auto-dismantlers, operates
in a rural/farmland area. There are strict EA laws in place that require them
to be responsible for any pollutants they might produce. Failure to comply with
these laws can result in hefty fines for the companies
When it comes to oil, the main goal for auto-dismantlers is
to keep the oil from reaching any natural water source. To do this, site operators
must keep the pits or interceptors clean. Should the interceptors become too
full, there is the chance that the oil or hydrocarbons can contaminate surface
or ground water. It’s also crucial to keep the interceptors clean in case there
is a flood - heavy rainwater can cause the interceptors to run over flow.
The Costly and Dreaded Job
Emptying interceptors is a job that can be messy, time
consuming, and labour intensive. Additionally, it can also be very expensive.
Phil Wood, Auto Spares and Salvage’s Yard Manager, is responsible for waste
management and implementing environmental policies. Wood explained to Abanaki
UK salesman Graham Smith that Auto Spares and Salvage would empty the
interceptor with a capacity of 6,000 gallons 3 times a year at a cost of over
£2000. Wood added that Auto Spares and Salvage is always striving to “set an
example to others”. With that thought in mind, Wood set out to find a solution
that would make cleaning the interceptors easy and efficient for site
operators, would reduce removal costs, and was an environmentally sound
solution.
A Green Solution
After learning about Abanaki Oil Skimmers Wood &
arranging a site visit, Abanaki’s Graham Smith visited the site &
recommended Abanaki’s PetroXtractor oil skimmer.
The PetroXtractor is a dependable and cost-effective solution
to unwanted oil in water where access to the fluid surface is limited. It acts using
the interceptors existing recovery and monitoring wells & it can reach
depths of 30 meters or more without the use of pumps. It can be installed in
existing wells by mounting it on a flat surface above the well casing with
removal rates of up to 45 litres per hour.
Why Choose an Oil
Skimmer?
Oil skimming makes use of the differences in specific gravity
and surface tension between oil & water. These physical characteristics
allow the belt to attract oil and other hydrocarbon liquids from the surface of
the fluid. Often, oil skimming by itself will reduce oil to an acceptable level
of water purity. Depending on the characteristics of the liquid, it is possible
for oil skimmers alone to reduce oil content to less than five parts per
million in water. The unit can be used as a pre-treatment before filtration,
and in conjunction with coalescing systems as part of an industrial wastewater
treatment plan. Oil skimmers offer a cost-effective and environmentally sound
solution to oil in water problems.
How the Savings Stacked
Up
Typically the PetroXtractor’s 12v DC battery is run on solar
power, or can use 12V vehicle batteries.
The skimmed oil is collected into mobile containers, which can then be transferred
to a larger waste oil tank.
Wood explains that some of the key benefits in utilizing the
PetroXtractor are that it is simple to use & so easy to train someone on
how to operate the skimmer. It has made
drastic improvements at keeping costs down. Initially the interceptor was
cleaned several times a year with costs over £2000. Since implementing the oil
skimmer the interceptor is now emptied once a year at the cost of only £900.
Wood says, “It’s one of the best investments made by the company and has proved
to be successful over a number of years”.
By utilizing a belt oil skimmer for their auto-dismantling
process, Auto Spares and Salvage was able to reduce removal costs, stay in
compliance, continue with their efforts to be environmentally aware and
responsible, and improve the day to day tasks for site operators.
To find out more about the oil skimming technologies Abanaki
offers visit www.abanaki.co.uk. Or call
Graham Smith at +01179 616679 or email skimmers@abanaki.co.uk.
About Abanaki
Corporation
Abanaki, the world leader in oil skimmer products,
manufactures a wide range of products to remove oils, greases, solvents, and
related hydrocarbons from water. Skimmer models are available with removal
rates ranging from 1 to 200 gallons per hour in both stationary and portable systems.
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Abanaki has more than 40 years’
experience in this field.
