Products for Separating Emulsified Oil and Water

Reference List, Minnesota Technical Assistance Program, University of Minnesota


Aqueous cleaning solutions can be contaminated by the build-up of emulsified waste oil. This oil can decrease the solution's cleaning capability. Separating oil from the water is an effective technique for extending the usefulness of process fluid or in pre-treating the wastewater prior to sewering.

Conventional oil-water separation methods, such as gravity separation and coalescence, are generally used for mechanically dispersed oil. Typically, emulsions formed in cleaning solutions have smaller droplets making them more stable, and conventional removal methods cannot split the emulsion.

Ultrafiltration and chemical treatment are two effective separation methods. Ultrafiltration membranes can isolate emulsified oil droplets from water. As a result, ultrafiltration produces a reusable oil-free solution and an oil-rich concentrate. Chemical treatment requires adding a combination of either a salt or a polymer with an acid to destabilize the emulsion, allowing the oil to separate from the water. Additional separation equipment, such as a skimmer, is used in conjunction with emulsion-breaking chemicals.

Information on related topics is available from MnTAP: Coolant Maintenance Equipment and Supplies and Centrifuge Equipment and Services reference lists, and a fact sheet on wastewater recycling systems.

MnTAP maintains this list of products for separating emulsified oil and water solely as a service to Minnesota companies. This is not a complete list of suppliers or products and does not represent an endorsement by MnTAP. MnTAP, by providing this list, does not represent that the products do or do not ensure compliance with environmental and safety laws in any specific application.

Ultrafiltration

Company

Local Representative

Notes

Alkota Cleaning Systems

Alcester, SD

800/255-6823

American Pressure, Inc.

Wayzata, MN

612/473-8818

800/544-0836; MN only

Portable and large-scale systems.

Cincinnati Milacron

Cincinnati, OH

513/841-8121

Martin Sales

Minneapolis, MN

612/636-3097

Ultrafication and recycling equipment. System equipped with pre-filter, process/clean tanks and pump.

Up to 12 gallons per hour (gph).

Hotsy Corporation

Englewood, CO

800/525-1976

Hotsy Equipment Co.

Roseville, MN

651/636-4779

Combination of coalescence, membrane filtration and polymer adsorption.

100-2,500 gph.

Hyde Products

Cleveland, OH

216/871-4885 800/949-0009

W.D. Forbes

Minneapolis, MN

612/378-1917

"Wastewarrior" systems process 350-600 gpd of oily wastewater using skimming, settling, particle filtration and ultrafiltration technology. Other oil separating systems are available.

Infinitex

Clarence, NY

716/759-6983

 

Units are available to process 50-300 standard units. Larger systems are custom made.

Kleer-Flo

Eden Prairie, MN

612/934-2555 800/328-7942

Mike Collins

Minneapolis, MN

612/934-2555

Batch process; 30-gallon capacity.

Koch Membrane Systems

Wilmington, MA

800/343-0499

Russ Davis

St. Charles, IL

630/513-0550

Filtration systems process 55 gpd and up. Wide applications including cleaning and machine fluid recycle are available. Recovery rates of 90-99 percent are common.

Membrex

Fairfield, NJ

201/575-8388 800/777-5242

 

Portable. Multiple applications.

Hydrophilic membrane minimizes filter fouling. Recycling of industrial fluids and waste water treament.

Midbrook Inc.

Jackson, MI

800/966-9274

 

"Reducer" filtration systems handle 50-100gpd. Other oil separation and wastewater treatment systems are available.

MSC Liquid Filtration

Enfield, CT

800/237-7359

 

Ceramic membrane. Micro or ultrafiltration.

Designed for treating alkaline washwater recovery. 75 to 1,000 gallons per day.

Osmonics

Minnetonka, MN

800/848-1750

 

Numerous types of membrane filtration equipment for various applications.

Sanborn

Medway, MA

508/533-8800 800/343-3381

C.I.G. Inc., Pat Chapple

Plymouth, MN

612/550-0723

Units handle 100 to 60,000 gallons per day. Membrane and centrifuge separators.

U.S. Filter Corporation

Warrendale, PA

800/525-0658

 

Ceramic membrane. Nonswelling.

Withstands wide range of operating environments. Oil water tanks.

Emulsion-breaking Chemicals

Beckart Environmental

Kenosha, WI

414/656-7680

Fremont Industries

Shakopee, MN

612/445-4121

Great Lakes Environmental

Addison, IL

708/543-9444

M & H Equipment Co, Inc.

Glen Lake, MN

612/927-6518

Local representative for:

1) TENCO Hydro, Inc.

Brookfield, IL

708/387-0700

Oakite Products, Inc.

Berkeley Heights, NJ

908/464-6900

800/521-6200

W.D. Forbes

Minneapolis, MN

612/378-1917

Local representative for:

1) McGean-Rohco, Inc.

Cleveland, OH

216/441-4900

2) TASKEM

Cleveland, OH

216/351-1500

(4/97-6)