ASTM D6157-97(2003)

Standard Practice for Determining the Performance of Oil/Water Separators Subjected to a Sudden Release

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The Clean Water Act promulgated the implementation of water quality standards and contamination limits for a wide range of pollutants including oil and grease. Specifically, the USEPA, in 40 CFR Ch. 1, prohibits “the discharges of oil that cause a film or sheen upon or cause discoloration of the surface of the water. . .” Several state and local agencies have adopted this statement in addition to setting concentration limits, that is, 15 mg/L or even 5 mg/L. The purpose of this practice is to evaluate the performance of a separator in regards to the regulations and user requirements when subject to a sudden release. The sudden release may occur in dry weather and local personnel may attempt to hose the contaminated area down or it may occur on a rainy day and enter the separator mixed in with the runoff.  
This practice is not applicable if the influent to a separator is simply runoff from contaminated rainwater. For this case, see Practice D 6104.
This practice is not applicable if the influent to a separator is conveyed by a pumping means.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the procedure, any necessary related apparatus, and the sampling technique to be used in determining the performance characteristics of oil/water separators subjected to contaminated run-off.
1.2 This practice does not address the determination of the performance characteristics of an oil/water separator subjected to the sudden release of a relatively large quantity of hydrocarbons that may appear, in pure form or at high concentration, in the influent to the separator. In this case, refer to Practice D 6157.
1.3 This practice does not address the determination of the performance characteristics of an oil/water separator subjected to a mechanically emulsified influent such as provided by a pump.
1.4 This practice does not investigate the ability of the separator to handle debris or suspended solids, that is, grit or tree leaves.
1.5 While the effluent may meet code requirements for total oil and grease content, this practice does not address the presence of soluble organics, i.e., Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl-benzene and Xylene (BTEX's) which may be detected in the effluent. It also does not make any provisions for the effects of detergents, surfactants, soaps, or any water soluble matter (that is, salts), or any portion of an essentially insoluble matter that may be found in solution on separation. (Effects of certain water soluble chemicals or solids may be investigated by adding them to the water at predetermined constant concentrations.)
1.6 In order to estimate the effect of water temperature on the performance of the separator, the tests described in this practice must be performed at two water temperatures. The selected temperatures must be at least 10°C (18°F) apart, with the temperature ranging from a minimum of 0°C (32°F) to a maximum of 50°C (122°F).
1.7 This practice does not make any provisions for the variation of pH or temperature during a test run. Refer to Appendix X1 for further detail.
1.8 This practice can be used with a variety of hydrocarbons. It adopts No. 2 fuel oil with a density of 845 kg/m3 (52.73 lbm/ft3) and a viscosity of 1.9 to 4.1 centistokes at 40°C (104°F) and SAE 90 lubricating oil with a density (See SAE J313) of 930 kg/m3(58 lbm/ft3) at 15.5°C (60°F) and a viscosity (see SAE J306) of 13.5 to
Note 1—No extrapolation outside the range of the tested influent or effluent oil concentrations is allowed as performance may not be linear. Hence, to establish performance at a higher or lower concentration, the separator shall be tested for that specific condition. In addition, linearity must be established prior to using linear interpolation.
1.9 Since regulations are based on effluent total hydrocarbon content, this practice does not set forth any lower limits on oil particle size for the evaluation of separator efficiency. However, a standardized means for mixing oil and water shall be s...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-2003
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.06 - Methods for Analysis for Organic Substances in Water

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6157-97 - Standard Practice for Determining the Performance of Oil/Water Separators Subjected to a Sudden Release
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D6157-97(2011) - Standard Practice for Determining the Performance of Oil/Water Separators Subjected to a Sudden Release
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D6104-97(2017)e1 - Standard Practice for Determining the Performance of Oil/Water Separators Subjected to Surface Run-Off
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D6157–97 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Practice for
Determining the Performance of Oil/Water Separators
Subjected to a Sudden Release
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6157; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope the temperature ranging from a minimum of 0 °C (32 °F) to a
maximum of 50 °C (122 °F).
1.1 This practice describes the testing procedure, any nec-
1.7 This practice does not make any provisions for the
essaryrelatedapparatus,andthesamplingtechniquetobeused
variation of pH or temperature during a test run. Refer to
in determining the performance characteristics of an oil/water
Appendix X1 for further detail.
separator subjected to the sudden release of a relatively large
1.8 This practice can be used with a variety of hydrocar-
quantity of hydrocarbons that may appear in its influent in pure
bons. It adopts No. 2 fuel oil with a density of 845 kg/
form or at high concentration.
3 3 2
m (52.73 lb /ft ) and a viscosity of 1.9 to 4.1 centistokes at
1.2 This practice does not address the determination of the m
40 °C (104 °F) and SAE 90 lubricating oil with a density (See
performance characteristics of an oil/water separator subjected
3 3
SAE J313) of 930 kg/m (58 lb /ft ) at 15.5 °C (60 °F) and a
to surface run-off resulting from rain water draining from m
viscosity (See SAE J306) of 13.5 to <24 centistokes at 100 °C
improved or unimproved land. In this case, refer to Practice
(212 °F) as the comparative testing media. It is understood that
D6104.
the results obtained from this practice are only directly
1.3 This practice does not address the determination of the
applicable to No. 2 fuel oil and SAE 90 lubricating oil for the
performance characteristics of an oil/water separator subjected
tested concentrations and only careful interpolation or extrapo-
to a mechanically emulsified influent such as provided by a
lation,orboth,isallowedtootherhydrocarbons.Lowviscosity
pump.
or high density hydrocarbons or hydrocarbons that contain a
1.4 This practice does not investigate the ability of the
larger fraction of highly soluble compounds may need to be
separator to handle debris or suspended solids, that is, grit or
tested separately.
tree leaves.
1.5 While the effluent may meet code requirements for total
NOTE 1—No extrapolation outside the range of the tested influent or
oil and grease content, this practice does not address the
effluent oil concentrations is allowed as performance may not be linear.
Hence, to establish performance at a higher or lower concentration, the
presence of soluble organics, that is, benzene, toluene, ethyl-
separator shall be tested for that specific condition. In addition, linearity
benzene and xylene (BTEX’s) that may be detected in the
must be established prior to using linear interpolation.
effluent. It also does not make any provisions for the effects of
detergents, surfactants, soaps or any water soluble matter (that 1.9 Since regulations are based on effluent total hydrocar-
bon content, this practice does not set forth any lower limits on
is, salts) or any portion of an essentially insoluble matter that
may be found in solution on separation. (Effects of certain oil particle size for the evaluation of separator efficiency.
However, a standardized means for mixing oil and water shall
water soluble chemicals or solids may be investigated by
adding them to the water at predetermined constant concentra- be specified to ensure repeatability. It must be noted however
that smaller particles, having a greater surface area to volume
tions.)
1.6 In order to estimate the effect of water temperature on ratio, rise at a slower rate than their larger counterparts. (Guide
F933 requires that 20 % of all oil particles be smaller than or
the performance of the separator, the tests described in this
practice must be performed at two water temperatures. The equal to 50 µm and IMO MEPC 60 (30) does not mention any
particle size requirements but asks the user to avoid emulsion
selected temperatures must be at least 10 °C (18 °F) apart, with
causing chemicals.)
1.10 Although the tests described in this practice intend to
simulate the performance of a separator subjected to a sudden
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and
release, they do not cover all possible applications. It is the end
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods for Analysis for
Organic Substances in Water.
Current edition approved June 10, 2003. Published August 2003. Originally
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as D6157 – 97. DOI: Ray E. Bolz and George L. Tuve, CRC Handbook of tables for Applied
nd
10.1520/D6157-97R03. Engineering Science, 2 Edition, CRC Press, 1991.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D6157–97 (2003)
user’s responsibility to determine whether his separation re- 3.2.2 contaminated run-off—rain water which has collected
quirements are within the scope of this practice. oilycontaminantsfromthesurfacesitcameincontactwithand
1.11 Aproduct different from the general description herein which may appear in the influent to a separator. Unlike a
may be tested and found to be in compliance with the release, the level of contamination in this case is much lower.
performance criteria set forth. 3.2.3 effluent—the aqueous release from a separator.
1.12 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 3.2.4 flow totalizer—a counter, usually attached to a flow
standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for meter, that evaluates the total volume of the fluid that has
information only. flowed through over a given time period.
1.13 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.2.5 influent—the oily aqueous input to a separator.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.2.6 oily discharge—any release of oily contaminants into
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- the environment that exceeds the allowable limit.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3.2.7 re-entrainment—the condition in which the level of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. contaminationoftheeffluentwaterofaseparatorcontainingoil
is higher than the influent contamination level due to internal
2. Referenced Documents
remixing. This definition usually applies to situations where
clean water passes through a separator that already contains
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Hydrocarbonsstoredwithinandatopthewatersoastoforman
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
interface.
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
3.2.8 release—any sudden discharge of an oily substance
D4281 Test Method for Oil and Grease (Fluorocarbon
from vessels that are specifically designed to store, contain, or
Extractable Substances) by Gravimetric Determination
transfer oily products such as storage tanks, pipelines, diked
F933 GuideforEvaluationofOilWaterSeparationSystems
areas, and transfer equipment and which may appear in the
for Spilled Oil Recovery Applications (Discontinued
influent to a separator.
2001)
3.2.9 separator—a flow through primary treatment device
D6104 Practice for Determining the Performance of Oil/
the primary purpose of which is to separate oil from water.
Water Separators Subjected to Surface Run-Off
2.2 EPA Standards:
4. Summary of Practice
EPA-413.1, “Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and
4.1 The practice evaluates a separator’s ability to inhibit a
Wastes,” EPA 600/4-79-020
sudden release from escaping into its effluent. For this, a
EPA-413.2, “Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and
quantity of hydrocarbon constituting at least the rated oil
Wastes,” EPA 600/4-79-020
storage capacity of the separator is released at the separator’s
EPA-1664, H-Hexane Extractable Material (HEM) and
rated flow for the test conditions, either in pure form or mixed
Silica Gel Treated N-Hexane Extractable Material (SGT-
with water to form a 500 000 mg/L concentration. It is then
HEM) by Extraction and Gravimetry (Oil and Grease and
immediately followed with fresh water. The corresponding
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) EPA-821-B-94-004B
effluent hydrocarbon content is determined by obtaining and
40 CFR Ch. 1 (7-1-95 Edition)
analyzing grab samples.
2.3 SAE Standards:
4.2 The data generated in this practice are considered valid
SAE J306 Axle and Manual Transmission Lubricant Vis-
for the separators tested only. However, the results of these
cosity Classification
tests may be extrapolated to smaller or larger size separators
SAE J313 Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice — (R)
provided that applicable geometric and dynamic similitude are
Diesel Fuels
maintained. Where the use of extrapolation is not applicable,
3. Terminology
that size unit must be subjected to testing.
4.3 Other concentrations and quantities of hydrocarbons
3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms used in this prac-
may be used. However, this shall be noted in the report and
tice, refer to Terminology D1129.
when referencing this practice.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
4.4 For the purpose of this test, the water temperature
3.2.1 calibration—the certified evaluation of the accuracy
should be between 50°F and 70°F and the pH of the water
of a measuring instrument as performed by its manufacturer or
between 6 and 9.
an independent licensed or accredited third party.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The Clean Water Act promulgated the implementation
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
of water quality standards and contamination limits for a wide
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
range of pollutants including oil and grease. Specifically, the
the ASTM website.
4 USEPA, in 40 CFR Ch. 1, prohibits “the discharges of oil that
Withdrawn.
causeafilmorsheenuponorcausediscolorationofthesurface
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
on www.astm.org.
of the water. . .” Several state and local agencies have adopted
Available from United States Environmental Protection Association
...