Sustainable Management of Oil Sludge with Oil India Limited (OIL)
Eco-Friendly Oil Sludge Treatment at Numaligarh Refinery : To address the environmental challenges posed by industrial waste, DRIIV has launched a pilot project with Oil India Limited to treat oil sludge sustainably at Assam's Numaligarh Refinery (NRL). This initiative uses green technology for oil sludge treatment, focusing on environmentally sound practices to manage and repurpose waste materials.
Lab tests on samples from the NRL refinery have yielded successful results, culminating in the submission of a comprehensive feasibility report. With these promising findings, DRIIV is set to execute transition of this innovation to an on-site pilot phase shortly, marking a pivotal step towards a greener and more sustainable approach to managing industrial waste. Oil sludge, a common byproduct of petroleum production, refining, storage, and transportation, consists of a complex mix of oil/water emulsion, solid particles, organic compounds, and heavy metals. Classified as hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), its improper handling poses significant environmental and health risks. Traditional physicochemical treatment methods like pyrolysis, incineration, and solvent extraction are costly, energy-intensive, and environmentally unfriendly. Phycoremediation offers a sustainable alternative, using microalgae to break down complex hydrocarbons into less toxic compounds and metabolize them as a carbon source. This cost-effective method leverages natural processes, reducing the need for expensive chemicals and energy. Upon successful completion of the pilot, DRIIV will be pleased to facilitate large-scale adoptions of Phycoremediation.