The research will investigate the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of utilizing composting as an alternative waste management practice for treating, detoxifying, and biostabilizing organic petroleum wastes. Refinery oily wastes will be subjected to the compost process in a pilot reactor unit to ascertain the degree of degradation of oil and grease. The performance of the pilot reactor will be monitored over the course of the experimental period. Various process parameters will be studied during the research, including loading rate, moisture content of the composting mixture, rate of aeration, and the use of inoculums isolated during the Phase I research effort. At the completion of the composting experiments, an analysis of the economics and of the environmental impacts of oily waste composting will be performed.
