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Efficient Oil Skimming: Six Reasons for Sustainable Manufacturing | Abanaki

Posted by Tom Hobson on Apr 26, 2024 10:00:00 AM

Oil and water: a classic combination that spells trouble for many industries if not managed properly. The need to separate oil from water in manufacturing processes is not just a matter of regulatory compliance; it's a crucial step in preserving the environment and reducing operational costs. Abanaki oil skimming technologies have emerged as a game-changer in this regard, offering a cost-effective solution to tackle oily wastewater. Here are six compelling reasons why manufacturers need to prioritize the removal of oil from water and how oil skimmers provide an effective remedy:

1. Environmental Protection:

The consequences of oil contamination in water bodies can be devastating. Just one gallon of used motor oil has the potential to contaminate up to a million gallons of fresh water. This staggering statistic underscores the urgent need for effective oil removal techniques to safeguard precious water resources and protect ecosystems.

2. Waste Management Challenges:

The United States alone generates billions of gallons of waste oil annually, with millions of gallons improperly disposed of. Without proper management, this waste poses significant environmental risks and legal liabilities. Oil skimming technologies offer a proactive approach to managing oily wastewater, mitigating the threat of pollution and regulatory non-compliance.

3. Diverse Sources of Contamination:

Oily wastewater can originate from various industrial processes, including machine tool operations, coolant usage, parts washing, and food processing. The diverse sources of contamination underscore the widespread relevance of oil skimming technologies across different sectors, providing a versatile solution to a common problem.

4. Legal Ramifications:

Dumping oily wastewater into storm sewers or natural water bodies is not just environmentally irresponsible; it can also lead to severe legal consequences. Violators may face hefty fines and even imprisonment, highlighting the importance of adopting responsible waste management practices, such as oil skimming, to ensure compliance with regulations.

5. Cost Considerations:

For larger manufacturers, outsourcing the disposal and treatment of oily wastewater to licensed firms can incur substantial monthly expenses running into thousands of dollars. By implementing oil skimmer technology, companies can significantly reduce the volume of waste oil requiring disposal or recycling, thereby trimming down operational costs and enhancing financial sustainability.

6. Efficiency and Resource Optimization:

Oil skimmers excel in efficiently removing oil from water, thereby reducing the water content of waste oil. This not only facilitates easier disposal or recycling but also maximizes the recovery of valuable resources. By optimizing resource utilization and minimizing waste, oil skimming technologies contribute to a more sustainable and efficient manufacturing process.

In summary, the imperative to remove oil from water extends far beyond regulatory compliance—it's about safeguarding the environment, mitigating legal risks, and optimizing operational efficiency. Abanaki oil skimming technologies offer a practical and cost-effective solution to address these challenges, empowering industries to uphold environmental stewardship while enhancing their bottom line.


Oil Skimmers Get the Dirty Jobs Done

To learn more about oil skimmers, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400 or visit our website: www.abanaki.com



You are just one step away from downloading Abanaki's most detailed resource on our oil skimming equipment. Simply click at the button to get your ultimate guide now.

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Topics: industrial Wastewater treatment, different oil skimmer industrial, oil and water separation

Model 4 Oil Skimmer Provides the Best Solution to Industrial Wastewater Treatment | Abanaki

Posted by Tom Hobson on Jul 29, 2022 10:30:00 AM

There are many reasons why so many facilities use the Model 4 oil skimmer as part of their industrial wastewater treatment. The Model 4 oil skimmer is designed to last for many years. With the proper configuration it can handle liquid temperatures up to 212°F, and the pH of the fluid can range from 3 to 13. Belts are specifically selected for your application (see Belt Selection page). The skimmer drive includes an oil filled gear reducer with bronze gears and ball bearings. The motor, reducer, and powder coated finish of the weldments give the Model 4 exceptionally long life, even under the harshest conditions. 

Our belt oil skimmers are used in industrial wastewater treatment applications quite frequently. An international manufacturer in the power transmission industry has been using our Model 4 belt oil skimmer as part of its manufacturing process for many years. The facility utilizes a poly belt on the Model 4 that is used in the parts washer, and it runs at roughly 140°F. The skimmer runs 8 hours a day and efficiently skims the oil out of the parts washer and helps to eliminate the company’s disposal costs.

The Oil Grabber Model 4 Belt Oil Skimmer

The Oil Grabber Model 4 Belt Oil Skimmer provides a continuously operating belt and wiper that can remove up to 20 gallons per hour. Depending on the characteristics of the liquid, it is possible for the Model 4 alone to reduce oil content to less than five parts per million in water. The unit can be used as a pretreatment before filtration, and in conjunction with coalescing systems as part of an industrial wastewater treatment plan. Reclaimed grease and oil can be re-used or used as furnace fuel, avoiding sucker truck disposal costs.

The Model 4 belt oil skimmer utilizes a continuous belt and wiper to remove up to 20 gallons of oil per hour from the fluid surface. The belt, operating on a motor and pulley system, runs through contaminated liquid to pick up oil from the surface.

After traveling over the head pulley, the belt passes through tandem wiper blades where oil is scraped off both sides of the belt and discharged. The tail pulley has flanges which allow it to roll freely on the inside of the belt without becoming dislodged. It requires no bearings and does not need to be fastened to the tank. If turbulent conditions exist, an optional tether and cage assembly prevents the tail pulley from being dislodged.


Oil Skimmers Get the Dirty Jobs Done


To learn more about oil skimmers, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400 or visit our website: www.abanaki.com



You are just one step away from downloading Abanaki's most detailed resource on our oil skimming equipment. Simply click at the button to get your ultimate guide now.

Get Your E-Book

Read More

Topics: oil skimming, belt oil skimmers, industrial Wastewater treatment

Oil Skimmers Enable Mines to Reuse Wash Water in Wash Bays

Posted by Tom Hobson on Jan 29, 2019 10:10:42 AM

 

Abanaki oil skimmers have been at work in mines around the world for decades. Typically located in remote areas, wastewater treatment facilities are often not available, so water must be reused onsite. Oil skimming cost-effectively removes oil from wash bays so that the water can either evaporate or can be reused.

When washing large equipment, diesel, oil, and grease, along with mud and debris get rinsed into a sump. Abanaki has three solutions that can be used in this situation: the Oil Grabber Model 4, Portable Tote-It, and the Oil Viper tube skimmer.

The Oil Grabber Model 4 is the most commonly used solution at mines. Its heavy-duty construction withstands the harsh environment inherent to the industry. Specially designed belts can collect all of the oil products present in the wash bay, and coupled with the optional Oil Concentrator, they effectively remove the oil without picking up much water.

The Portable Tote-It works well in smaller wash bays or in other parts of the mine where water and oil are present. As with the rest of Abanaki’s product line, it is available in stainless steel, which resists the strong chemicals that can be present at a mine. Two sizes are available based on belt width: 2″ and 4″.

Abanaki’s Oil Viper tube skimmer has a small footprint, but large recovery rate. The tube “snakes” around the pit and can collect oils and greases with ease. It works very well in shallow sumps or confined spaces.

Oil skimming can reduce the amount of labor needed to keep wash bays clean by mechanically removing the oil. Unlike socks or hand-held skimmers, Abanaki’s equipment is able to run continuously or on a timer to eliminate the need for manual labor. Wash bays are typically small and located near the mining pit and would not merit a large, expensive water filtration system. Oil skimmers are an economical way to remove the oil.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your application the best, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400, or click the button below to get our Webinar: How to Successfully Implement Oil Skimmers

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Topics: oil skimmers, oil viper, model 4, tote-it, industrial Wastewater treatment, mines

Abanaki Specializes in Refinery Oil Skimmer Technology

Posted by Tom Hobson on Jan 24, 2019 2:05:56 PM

Refineries are capable of producing gasoline, jet fuel, or even asphalt and, like most large-scale high capacity plants, require process optimization and advanced process controls.

Oil skimming is a popular method for capturing and removing oil from wastewater in plant treatment systems. This process is mandatory to avoid fines and to produce fuel as economically and environmentally friendly as possible. Abanaki Corporation has successfully specialized in refinery oil skimmer technology for over 40 years. Oil skimmers work by making use of the differences in specific gravity and surface tension between oil and water. These physical characteristics allow the belts to attract oil and other hydrocarbon liquids from the surface of the fluid. Abanaki belt skimmers can be used in applications as deep as 100 feet.

By implementing an oil skimming solution, the goal to recapture 100% of all hydrocarbons before they go down the drain, can be achieved. The oil skimmer collects the bulk of the hydrocarbons and sends them back to a crude tank. Any residual oils can be removed through filtration or chemical treatment. The oil skimmer is operated 24 hours a day 7 days a week. A refinery oil skimmer requires very little oversight, no maintenance, and the time saved more than offsets the electrical costs.

The Model 8 oil skimmer is the most widely used Abanaki oil skimmer. Its size and removal capacity make it suitable for most applications. From a mere shimmer on top of water to a heavy oil slick, the Model 8 oil skimmer performs efficiently, removing up to 40 gallons of oil per hour.

The new solar-powered version of Abanaki’s popular Model 8 Oil Skimmer is available. It removes oil at up to 40 gph, where electrical power is unavailable or inconvenient.

The Abanaki Model MB oil skimmer is a dependable and effective means of removing oil from water and water-base solutions. 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 the Model MB alone to reduce oil content to less than five parts per million in water. The unit can be used as a pretreatment before filtration, and in conjunction with a coalescing system.

The Model 4 oil skimmer utilizes a continuous belt and wiper to remove up to 20 gallons of oil per hour from the fluid surface.

Depending on the application, a belt skimmer such as the units described above can be used or a tube skimmer like the Oil Viper would be another viable solution.  The Abanaki Oil Viper tube skimmer is a surface oil skimmer that effectively removes floating surface oils by means of an oleophilic (oil attracting) 3/4 inch diameter continuous looped tube. The tube extends out over the surface of the tank or pit and collects the free floating oils.

The Oil Viper has a specially designed method for removing the oil from the tube. It has a unique wiper combination attached to the tube itself in addition to the ceramic wiper on the skimmer. The result is a virtually oil free tube as it leaves the oil skimmer for quicker oil removal. Removal rates can be as high as one hundred gallons per hour. It can be used in either shallow tanks or reservoirs.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your application the best, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400, or click the button below to get our most detailed resource E-Book on our oil skimming equipment.

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Topics: refinery oil skimmer, model 4, model 8, oil skimmer, wastewater skimmer, refinery, industrial Wastewater treatment, model mb

Belt Oil Skimmers Should be Given Serious Consideration for Groundwater Remediation Equipment

Posted by Tom Hobson on Dec 17, 2018 11:15:00 AM

Sometimes, an important technological advance begins with a small step-back! Such is the case with remediation of hydrocarbons from groundwater utilizing existing recovery and monitoring wells.

For the past few years, state government has based decisions on the amount of clean up that they require by the risk posed to the environment. Risk Based Corrective Action, commonly called “Rebecca” (RBCA), is a process that utilizes the principles of exposure assessment, toxicity and mobility to make corrective action decisions on sites that are cost effective while still protecting human health as well as that of the environment. Many times all they require is removal of the free-phase product, allowing any emulsified contaminant to degrade with time. RBCA has saved many millions of dollars both for taxpayers and for businesses. With state regulatory agencies taking this approach, oil skimming devices have emerged as one of the most cost effective groundwater remediation equipment choices.

Wastewater engineers in industrial settings have, for many years, understood the value of skimmers in the removal of hydrocarbons from water. Food processing plants, the metals industry, machining firms and utilities have all used skimmers with great success for wastewater treatment. Recently, skimmer manufacturers have modified their product as groundwater remediation equipment. The belt skimmer’s ability to get into tight spaces and remove relatively large amounts of hydrocarbons lends itself perfectly to groundwater remediation.

Since most oils, fuels and other hydrocarbon liquids have the tendency to float on water, skimmers are designed to remove only the top, free-phase, product layer. With only product being removed, the cost and maintenance of other down-well and water treatment equipment can be eliminated. Another cost advantage to skimming is that in many cases the product can be salvaged for reuse – further reducing the overall price by eliminating the disposal cost.

The options for remediation equipment through recovery wells are practically unlimited since these wells come in a variety of sizes; any of the available technologies such as pump and treat of bio-remediation can be used in the correct size recovery well. Monitoring wells, however, are small, typically less than 4 inches in diameter. Initially installed for the monitoring of groundwater they are cheaper to construct and just large enough to allow a baling device or oil/water interface detector to pass through. As a cost savings measure, these small diameter wells are increasingly being used for product removal. With the increase in this new use, it is only natural that a number of devices are showing up claiming the ability to remove product through monitoring wells.

With the requirements for groundwater remediation systems becoming more reasonable, the use of skimming devices in lieu of pump and treat systems is increasing. The enormous expense involved with treating millions of gallons of water including the remediation equipment, monitoring and related maintenance is being replaced with a much more common sense attitude. Skimmers, especially belt skimmers, as a means of remediation equipment, not only meet the challenge but, most times exceed. Pump and treat still has a place in this industry, but the small step “backward” to time proven skimming, a more reasonable and cost effective method, cannot be overlooked.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your application the best, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400, or click the button below to get our whitepaper, DNAPL A Threat? 9 Ways to Treat DNAPLs!

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Topics: oil skimmer, wastewater skimmer, petroxtractor, industrial Wastewater treatment

Industrial Wastewater Treatment: Abanaki Model 4 Provides The Best Solution

Posted by Tom Hobson on Apr 25, 2017 8:30:00 AM

Our belt oil skimmers are used in industrial wastewater treatment applications quite frequently. An international manufacturer in the power transmission industry has been using our Model 4 belt oil skimmer as part of its manufacturing process for more than 2 years . The facility utilizes a poly belt on the Model 4 that is used in the parts washer, and it runs at roughly 140°F. The skimmer runs 8 hours a day and efficiently skims the oil out of the parts washer and helps to eliminate the company’s disposal costs. After more than 2 years of consecutive operation, the plant operators are just now replacing the poly belt and wiper blades.

There are many reasons why so many facilities use the Model 4 oil skimmer as part of their industrial wastewater treatment. The Model 4 oil skimmer is designed to last for many years. With the proper configuration it can handle liquid temperatures up to 212°F, and the pH of the fluid can range from 3 to 13. Belts are specifically selected for your application (see Belt Selection page). The skimmer drive includes an oil filled gear reducer with bronze gears and ball bearings. The motor, reducer, and powder coated finish of the weldments give the Model 4 exceptionally long life, even under the harshest conditions.

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Topics: oil skimmers, model 4, belt oil skimmers, industrial Wastewater treatment

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