Abstract: Solid contaminants are removed from tramp oil containing aqueous emulsions, the emulsions are separated into reusable constituents and the separated aqueous liquid is recycled. Apparatus and method are provided especially for reclaiming solvents, washing solutions, lubricating oil, cutting oil and the like from installations for cleaning, quenching or washing oil coated stampings, parts, and the like. Dirt, grit, scale and the like contaminants are filtered out from used industrial cleaning solutions, the liquid components are coalesced into reusable constituents and the aqueous component is continuously recycled for re-use without loss of dissolved chemicals or consumption of energy for heating or cooling.

Abstract: A longitudinally elongated settling tank with a converging longitudinal hopper bottom along the length thereof has a longitudinally elongated travelling bridge reciprocating continuously or intermittently through a relatively short stroke between the inlet and outlet ends of the tank from which depends a plurality of longitudinally spaced sludge pick-up heads each sucking sludge from a zone in the bottom of the tank during a preset cycle. Liquid fed into one end of the tank forms a settling pond from which clarified liquid flows over longitudinal weirs at the opposite end of the tank. In a preferred embodiment a first pick-up head serves the inlet end zone of the tank in which the heavier sludge settles from the pond, a second pick-up head serves the middle zone of the tank while a third pick-up head serves the outlet end zone of the tank.

Abstract: A longitudinally elongated settling tank with a converging longitudinal hopper bottom along the length thereof has a longitudinally elongated travelling bridge reciprocating continuously or intermittently through a relatively short stroke between the inlet and outlet ends of the tank from which depends a plurality of longitudinally spaced sludge pick-up heads each sucking sludge from a zone in the bottom of the tank during a preset cycle. Liquid fed into one end of the tank forms a settling pond from which clarified liquid flows over longitudinal weirs at the opposite end of the tank. Because of the short stroke of the bridge, the tank can be reinforced with internal framework between the paths of the suction heads permitting use of lighter sheet metal for the tank. A skimmer is automatically lowered into the top of the pond as the bridge advances to sweep oil, scum, and other material floating on the pond into an outlet and is retracted above the pond on the return stroke of the bridge.

Abstract: A process for clean-up of pollutant ladent water of the type characteristically produced in conventional container manufacturing installations. Such waste water is derived typically from water based printing ink wash-up and/or starch adhesive wastes. The process produces highly purified, optionally colorless water adapted for re-use and/or discharge. The process employs chemical treatment of such a starting aqueous waste to facilitate removals of colloidal particles and heavy metals followed by physical removal of suspended solids. Optionally, the resulting treated water is further subjected to decolorization.