Method and apparatus for separating oil from water in wastewater

Abstract

Wastewater containing a surfactant and an oil content that has been emulsified by the action of the surfactant can be freed of the oil content by a method including feeding the wastewater into the anode compartment, for electrolysis, of a diaphragm electrolyzer having an anode and a cathode provided in the anode compartment and a cathode compartment, respectively, which are spaced apart by a porous diaphragm and which are supplied with a dc voltage between the anode and the cathode, passing part of the electrolyzed wastewater through the diaphragm so that it enters the cathode compartment, discharging the influent from the cathode compartment, discharging the remainder of the electrolyzed wastewater from the anode compartment and introducing the same into the intermediate portion of a gas-liquid separator, withdrawing part of the influent from the top of the gas-liquid separator and introducing the same into a layer packed with an adhering material, where it is brought into contact with the adhering material, directing the effluent to an oil-water separation step for accomplishing the intended oil-water separation, and withdrawing the remainder from the bottom of the gas-liquid separator and returning the same to mix with the feed to the electrolysis step. Preferably, the polarities of the two electrodes are changed alternately at specified time intervals during the step of diaphragm electrolysis such that the anode compartment is switched to the cathode compartment and vice versa.