Using organoclays for efficient dewatering

Organoclays have been used as a prepolisher for activated carbon or as a post-polisher for oil/water separators and dissolved air flotation units for the removal of small amounts of oil, grease, PCB, PNA, BTX and other organic hydrocarbons of low solubility for cleanup of groundwater and waste-water. The end user can save 50% or more of operational costs by removing large hydrocarbons that plug the pores of activated carbon beforehand, allowing carbon to remove the last 5 ppm or less of volatile compounds. Organoclays can remove seven times as much oil and other organic hydrocarbons of low solubility, as does carbon. This article details a California city's use of organoclays for efficient dewatering.