Contaminants in marine wastewater facing current or near-future regulations can be broadly categorized to free oil & suspended solids, emulsified oil and dissolved solids, and biological organisms. The first category of contaminants has been treated by commercially available OWS systems. The second class of contaminants, emulsified oils and dissolved solids, has been effectively treated by UF membrane filtration and to a less extent by biological oxidation and surface modified filters. A survey of recent advances in physical and chemical demulsification technologies to enhance emulsified oil removal with reduced loads on membrane was conducted. The study also identified new applications for treatments of biological organisms in ballast water.
Paper published with permission.
