Coagulation enhanced centrifugation for treatment of petroleum hydrocarboncontaminated waters

A 2x2x3 factorial design experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of operational variables on the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from water. The experimental variables studied included contaminant concentration, coag ulant type, coagulant use, and type of source water (pond and brackish). Ef fectiveness of centrifugation process was evaluated in terms of petroleum h ydrocarbon (PHC) and turbidity removal. The experimental results showed tha t centrifugation with coagulation significantly improved the PHC removal. A ddition of coagulants prior to centrifugation increased the removal of PHCs by 10 to 14 percent and turbidity by 10 to 35 percent. The effectiveness o f coagulation in removing PHCs and turbidity prior to centrifugation was hi gher at lower PHC concentrations.