Airport Services Solutions

Pittsburgh International Airport

EQ Airport Services Division has been under contract with the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) since the fall of 1998 for the management of spent aircraft deicing fluid (SADF) at its Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Originally a "harvest" of high concentrate from the dedicated deicing pads, ramps, and gate areas, the project has evolved to include management of all concentrations through on-site treatment, off-site disposal, and off-site recycling. Through an comprehensive program of monitoring, processing, testing, tracking, and transporting of all fluid collected from seven centralized deicing pads EQ has assisted the Airport in meeting its discharge permit requirements.

Aircraft deicing enters the collection system through trench drains and an underground piping system. Once in the piping system, the SADF flows to diversion vaults where it is directed by valves to surface water or the collection tanks. EQ segregate the fluid at this point by diverting higher concentrated fluid to one tank and lower concentrated fluid to the other.

Once in the Airport Authority's collection tanks, it is EQ's responsibility to remove fluid to maintain the tank fluid levels below the Storm Surge Capacity Levels. This ensures enough storage is available to keep the deicing pad open should a storm event arise. In addition to conducting daily tank inspection, EQ also monitors the precipitation after each deicing, as a means of administering the Airport's "First Flush" program.

The fluid movement is performed via dedicated EQ tractor/trailer(s) by EQ associates, via pipeline, or other direct connections to the EQ processing site. Transportation to EQ's Glycol Processing Unit or to off-site disposal facilities (based on concentrations) is performed by EQ and/or through a number of contracted licensed carriers.

EQ provides two to three Glycol Recovery Vehicles (GRVs) to clean the terminal apron and gate areas, along with nightly cleanings of the centralized deicing pads. The GRVs are operated to recover fugitive glycol that may have escaped the centralized collection areas, while also removing SDF from the centralized pads before it has a chance absorb into the concrete or contaminate the collection /storm run-off system. All fluid recovered by the GRVs is segregated by concentration and offloaded into the appropriate EQ storage tank.

Commissioned during the winter of 2000-2001, the low concentrate treatment system at EQ-PIT is a multi-stage Reverse Osmosis (RO) System. The system is designed to start with a feed concentration of 1-4% propylene glycol and generate two streams. The concentrating component of the system produces a high concentrate that averages 8-12% final concentration. This final concentrate is sent to a high concentrate storage tank or shipped directly to EQ's Glycol Processing Unit for final processing. The other stream generated is a purified water (permeate). This stream is discharged directly to Moon Township POTW in compliance with EQ's industrial discharge permit parameters.

All high concentrate spent deicing fluids and RO concentrate are transported to the Glycol Processing Unit at EQRR where they are processed through a high efficiency evaporator to separate water from glycol (to approximately 60-70% glycol concentration). The concentrated glycol is then further processed through a vacuum distillation column to produce a 99+% pure product. This recycled product is sold to established outlet markets for reuse.

The current staff at EQAS-Pit consists of an operations manager, supervisor, three full time operators, and seasonal part-time operators, Each operator is trained to operate and maintain all RO processing equipment, GRVs, and project equipment. Once the deicing season has begun, EQ-PIT staffs the operation 24/7 to meet the required needs of the Airport Authority. All EQAS-PIT operators possess Class A Commercial Drivers Licenses with tanker endorsements. All employees are also formally trained in Confined Space Entry. In the off-season (June-October), EQ employees are responsible for cleaning all ACAA and EQ above ground storage tanks.

Comprehensive Environmental Management Services for the Aviation Industry

Solutions: