Technical Profile

In addition to oil & grease parameters, discharge permits may address the toxicity of overboard discharge. Aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene (together known as BTEX) are toxic to marine life and have relatively high solubility in water. In some cases where their concentration is significant, as found in some natural gas produced water, these compounds must be removed and destroyed prior to overboard discharge.